Celebrities Jake Ejercito and Jessy Mendiola criticized the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for using informal language to announce class suspensions during recent heavy rains and flooding caused by the southwest monsoon.
The backlash followed a July 22 Facebook post from the DILG that read, “Mga Abangers, sarap ng bogchi ko. Sa kabusugan ay naka idlip nang sandali. Oh eto na inaabangan ninyo,” alongside a graphic suggesting the message came from DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
While the tone aligned with Remulla’s usual social media style, netizens and public figures called it inappropriate, saying it downplayed the urgency of the situation. Some users labeled the department “out of touch.”
Ejercito commented directly on the post, saying humor had no place in crisis-related announcements. Mendiola also questioned the department’s casual tone, asking whether the message was meant to be taken seriously.
As of Tuesday, the DILG had not responded to the criticism. Remulla previously said his office was authorized to announce class suspensions on behalf of the Cabinet, a statement confirmed by Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez.
