Former matinee idol Eric Fructuoso has joined the growing list of celebrities taking jabs at the alleged corruption in government flood control projects—this time, with humor that quickly went viral.
On Friday, Aug. 29, the ex-Gwapings star posted on Facebook about his new Ford Everest SUV, writing: “Kaya ko binili itong Everest kasi naaliw ako sa payong ”
The post, clearly a tongue-in-cheek reference, alluded to the now-infamous interview of contractor and former Pasig mayoral candidate Sarah Discaya, who flaunted her family’s luxury cars on national TV and revealed that she bought one vehicle simply because it came with a free umbrella.
Fructuoso’s witty post immediately resonated with netizens, amassing over 260,000 reactions, 3,000 comments, and 4,000 shares within a day.
The actor, who rose to fame in the 1990s as part of the teen boy group Gwapings alongside Mark Anthony Fernandez, Jomari Yllana, and Jao Mapa, has since transitioned to mature roles on television, often portraying villains, fathers, or supporting characters. Recently, however, he’s also been using his social media to poke fun at hot-button issues.
Fructuoso’s humor came as public anger continued to mount over revelations that 15 contractors cornered about 20% of all flood control contracts worth ₱100 billion in the last three years. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has since launched the “Sumbong sa Pangulo” website, allowing citizens to report anomalies in flood control projects, while the Senate pushes forward with its probe into the alleged ghost and substandard infrastructures.
