Actress retracts 'squatters' remark on Yolanda victims

MANILA, Philippines — A comedy and theater actress on Tuesday apologized for calling Yolanda survivors "squatters" in a Facebook post, which she has deleted.

Cynthia Patag, who was popular in the 90s for her role in the sitcom Palibhasa Lalake, irked Filipino Facebook users after she seemingly scolded survivors of devastating typhoon Yolanda for comparing government-built bunkhouses with the cells of detained senators Ramon "Bong" Revilla, Jr. and Jose "Jinggoy" Estrada.

"Nagrereklamo ang mga Yolanda victims dahil mas maganda ang Camp Crame detention centers para kay Sen. Revilla and Sen. Estrada kesa sa bunk houses the [Department of Public Works and Highways] built for them for free?" Patag said in her earlier post written in capital letters.

"To begin with, they used to be squatters! Whose camp is stoking the flames of collective outrage versus the P-Noy administration here? Incredible," she added.

Patag was referring to memes circulating in the social networking site showing interiors of government-made temporary houses for the disaster victims in the Visayas and the so-called "VIP" cells at the newly renovated Philippine National Police Custodial Center.

A graphic juxtaposing a bunkhouse made for Yolanda victims and the cell of senators tagged in the pork barrel scam.

On Tuesday, Patag retracted and said that she has deleted the contentious statement, which she claimed was only a "repost."

"I deleted two posts, the second was a repost, wherein I mentioned the Yolanda victims in Tacloban who were given bunk houses were dissatisfied with the accommodations. It was insensitive and I'm sorry," Patag said, punctuating her status post with a sad emoticon.

Patag's apology was welcomed by many, who called her retraction an act of humility.

"Apology accepted! I know how you feel! It's understandable!" a user said. - Camille Diola