Following Senator Cynthia Villar’s statement telling health workers to work harder during the pandemic, several celebrities took to social media to call out the business magnate-turned-politician for what many referred to as “insensitive” and “out-of-touch” comments.
Villar — whose remarks came following an appeal from health workers to place Metro Manila and under adjacent areas back to enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) — dismissed the appeal of the health workers during an interview on DWIZ radio.
“Hindi na siguro. Pagbutihin nila (medical frontline workers) trabaho nila,” she said.
But several netizens — including celebrities — felt the need to call her out on social media as many deem her statements inappropriate considering the many sacrifices health workers have made over the last five months.
Enchong Dee, for one, wrote: “Insensitive. Out-of-Touch. Billionaire.”
Insensitive. Out-of-Touch. Billionaire. https://t.co/tWOzYcOf7G
— Enchong Dee (@enchongdee777) August 1, 2020
Jake Cuenca, on the other hand, wrote: “Maam wag natin baliwalain ang trabahong ginagawa ng mga health care workers natin, sila nga ang nag bubuwis buhay para satin lahat ngayon pandemia. Dapat silang pasalamatan.”
Maam wag natin baliwalain ang trabahong ginagawa ng mga health care workers natin, sila nga ang nag bubuwis buhay para satin lahat ngayon pandemia. Dapat silang pasalamatan. https://t.co/waMMszMMrk
— Jake Cuenca (@ijakecuenca) August 1, 2020
Kapuso star Jennylyn Mercado also told Sen. Villar to “be better” since health workers are “heroes” who deserve better.
“Sen, with all due respect po, you don’t get to comment about the work na ginagawa ng ating medical frontliners until you are able to experience what it’s like to be in their shoes.” She added: “Sen ... Be better because our Heroes Deserve better.”
Kayo din po. 🙃 https://t.co/cmQBSYgaaG
— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) August 1, 2020
Thank you to our medical frontliners. Without you matagal na tayong talo sa laban against this virus.
— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) August 1, 2020
You deserve so much more than this.
We are so sorry...
Sen, with all due respect po, you don’t get to comment about the work na ginagawa ng ating medical frontliners until you are able to experience what it’s like to be in their shoes.
— jennylyn mercado (@MercadoJen) August 1, 2020
Sen...Be better because our Heroes Deserve better.
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Sa lahat ng iingatan niyo ang feelings ngayon , ang iprioritize naten ang mga medical frontliners. Malamang pinagbubutihan nila trabaho nila kesa sa inyo. Kasi pag di nila inayos trabaho nila.. pati buhay nila delikado..
— Jerald Napoles (@IamJNapoles) August 1, 2020
Eh di kayo na maging medical frontliner... ano ba nai-ambag nyo?
— Jerald Napoles (@IamJNapoles) August 1, 2020
Ayan copy paste with some revisions pero mas agreeable.
Senator Cynthia Villar likewise explained why there is no need to go back to ECQ and cited economic fallout as the main reason.
“Hindi pwede isara ang ekonomiya kasi kung hindi mamamatay sa (COVID-19), mamatay sa gutom ang mga tao,” she stated.
Villar is the wife of former Senator Manny Villar. Their family owns Vista Land and Lifescapes Inc., among others.