Tricia Robredo with mother, Vice President Leni Robredo, and sisters Aika and Jilian, who graduated with double majors in Economics and Mathematics at the New York University. Image from Twitter / Tricia Robredo
MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo’s daughter, Tricia, has called out netizens making fun of red-tagging and martial law atrocities.
“I’m not sure what bothers me more: being impersonated on the comments section of the livestream of my sister’s graduation or people thinking that this is something to joke about. Hindi nakakatawa at hindi nakakatuwa (It’s not funny and not something to be happy about). Pakiusap (I’m asking you) – please stop,” she said on Twitter Wednesday evening.
I’m not sure what bothers me more: being impersonated on the comments section of the livestream of my sister’s graduation or people thinking that this is something to joke about. Hindi nakakatawa at hindi nakakatuwa. Pakiusap – please stop. https://t.co/kcUb3rMicB
— Tricia Robredo (@jpgrobredo) May 18, 2022
“You’re concerned about historical revisionism but you joke about nutribun and red-tagging, as if these are things to be taken lightly. I will never reduce the atrocities of Martial Law for clout and entertainment. Neither should you,” she further said.
In the livestream of the graduation rites of the vice president’s daughter, Jillian, some accounts appeared to impersonate Tricia and Aika, the vice president’s eldest daughter.
A now deleted screenshot showed that Tricia’s impersonator commented: “Aiks, gusto mo bang maging nutribun tayo (Aiks, do you want us to be nutribuns)?”
Some social media users have joked that they will become nutribuns, if they become a critic of the government.
Nutribun, designed as a “ready-to-eat and complete meal,” was introduced to the Philippines in the 1970s to combat malnutrition.
Contrary to supporters’ claims that it was a project under the administration of late former president Ferdinand Marcos Sr., nutribun was a program of the United States Agency for International Development.
The jokes about nutribun, red-tagging, and other martial law atrocities sprouted on social media in the runoff to the May 9 elections, wherein Marcos’ son and namesake is now the presumptive president.
Meanwhile, a separate screenshot showed Aika’s impersonator, saying “merlot shot puno” which means to take a shot of the alcoholic beverage.
I do not talk like this. Nor do I post messages like this on public livestreams. Please stop. https://t.co/13n4xsMkg2
— Aika Robredo (@aikarobredo) May 18, 2022
Responding to the screenshot of the impersonator on Twitter, Aika said Wednesday evening: “I do not talk like this. Nor do I post messages like this on public livestreams. Please stop.”