National Youth Commission chairperson Ryan Enriquez issued an apology on Wednesday after receiving backlash over a billboard advertisement on COVID-19 protective measures with his face plastered on it.
Some netizens have pointed out that the ad may be a strategy for early campaigning for the next elections.
Enriquez said quickly defended himself and said he only wanted to disseminate information on COVID-19. The billboard has already been taken down.
“Ang objective ko lang naman ay makatulong para sa information dissemination, lalo na ngayon nabawasan ang major network na nagbabalita. Ang pagkakamali ko, ang laki ng mukha ko. Pasensya na,” he said.
[My objective was only to help in information dissemination, especially now that a major network that brings news was closed. I made a mistake because there was a big photo of my face plastered on it. I’m sorry.]
Moreover, he said that the NYC did not spend a cent in putting up the billboard.
“Walang ginastos ang NYC kahit isang sentimo, negosyo ng pamilya namin yun.” he said.
[The NYC did not spend any cent. It was on my family’s business.]
Netizens did not mince words in criticizing the act of the chairperson. They questioned the intention as Enriquez’s face is much bigger than the message he claimed he was trying to send.
