Netizens accused Claudine Barretto of using her late ex-boyfriend Rico Yan for her campaign.
This happened after Barretto commented that Yan looked up to President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte, and Bongbong Marcos in an Instagram post on Tuesday, April 12.
“It was about year 2000 when we met with President Duterte. In that same year we met Maam Sara & lastly BBM. Rico looked up to these people. Our whole family is BBM only Marjorie & her kids are Leni,” Barretto wrote on Instagram.
“Tita Sita Yan & I & my mom BBM rin po. Pls let us all respect everybody. Stay safe and God bless all of you,” she added.
In October 2021, Barretto filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) in Olangapo. She is running for councilorship.
Yan’s name became a trending topic on twitter following Barretto’s statement. Here are some reactions from netizens:
https://twitter.com/yawathoughtx/status/1513777333714681857?s=20&t=-AdhEXw10IlFH_Dt89czgw
Claudine Barretto: “Rico is a true-blooded Marcos (supporter) and admires BBM also President Duterte when met all in person in Davao.”
Rico Yan (+): pic.twitter.com/1sEusFP6NK
— Miss Maggie (@MiaMagdalena) April 13, 2022
https://twitter.com/hellohanina/status/1514062538408833025?s=20&t=-AdhEXw10IlFH_Dt89czgw
Rico Yan reading Claudine Barretto's ig comment about his political stand pic.twitter.com/MxX6Cdd0gf
— Alphina (@maleedus) April 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/only4trejo/status/1513842451965906950?s=20&t=-AdhEXw10IlFH_Dt89czgw
Can Claudine Barretto stop exploiting a dead man already? This has gone too far. Rico Yan does not deserve this.
— Harry James (@harryarrest) April 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/ashleyp3rdiem/status/1513779425178886147?s=20&t=-AdhEXw10IlFH_Dt89czgw
Yan was Barretto’s former partner on-screen and in real-life, who passed away in March 2002 during a trip in Palawan. They starred in hit movies together such as Flames: The Movie, Got 2 Believe and Dahil Mahal na Mahal Kita, among others.
