Bamboo on Joniver Robles’ departure from ‘The Voice PH’

MANILA, Philippines – Singer Bamboo has said a few words about the departure of Joniver Robles from The Voice of the Philippines.

“This is what’s best for him. I just wish him good luck. It’s sad to see him go,” Bamboo said in an interview with Pep at an event for one of his new endorsements. 

He said that he had not spoken with Joniver since he left the show. 

“People have to remember that there’s life after the show,” he said. 

Joniver was part of team Bamboo, having made it all the way to the end of the Knockout rounds. However, Bamboo later announced Joniver’s departure due to personal reasons. (READ: FULL LIST: ‘The Voice PH’ Knockout rounds results: who’s in and who’s out) 

Via Facebook posts, Joniver reacted to the development, particularly regarding viewers’ speculations about his departure from the show.

“This is for those who are saying I broke some rule or did something para magka problema yung show. Post it here. Just make sure your facts are straight and speaks for itself at hindi nabasa nyo lang at narinig kung kanino (and is not something you read or just heard from someone).”

Earlier, he also said on Facebook that the opportunity to stay on the show was taken away from him. 

“I NEED HELP. To all my supporters….specially friends and love ones…to my Mom. I didnt know what to do and not hearing anything from my coach and teammates or anyone from the show made me wait until tonight. IT WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM ME.”

In a Facebook exchange with Rappler, Joniver said: “It is safer for them to say I walked out than for the masses to find out they took someone out at this stage of the show.”

Meanwhile, Rita Martinez is set to participate in the live shows, taking Joniver’s place in the next rounds. Bamboo himself gave her the good news. “That was a tough competition amongst the 3 of us and to be honest, I really thought that was IT for me when the coach called me to be grouped with 2 awesome veterans in the music industry. It was an honor for me as well coz now I know I am also in that level already. All the hard work through the years has finally paid off. This is my passion and I thank God so much for this!” she wrote on Facebook. 

Lea weighs in

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Lea Salonga, who sits as a coach with Bamboo on the show, also kept mum on the circumstances surrounding the sudden development. 

“If it’s got nothing to do with my team, I’m hands off. I’m the wrong person to ask regarding this. You might have to talk to the staff who are in charge of us on The Voice and then you’ll have to go from there. If it happened in my team, I’ll have something to say,” Lea said.

Asked if she feels any regrets on Joniver not being part of the show, Lea said: “It’s hard kasi it would depend on the circumstances. If it’s something that the show is at fault, then that’s one thing. But if it’s something where the contestant mismo ‘yung at fault, and if they did something wrong, then it’s like sinayang na (wasted) opportunity. It really depends on what the circumstances are.” – Rappler.com