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Representatives Alfred Vargas (Quezon City, Fifth District), Loren Legarda (Antique Lone District), Yul Servo (Manila, Third District), and Dan Fernandez (Laguna, First District) greatly disappointed netizens for not voting in favor of ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
The affiliation of these representatives with the entertainment industry caused many people to anticipate that they will vote for the network’s franchise. However, that turned out to be untrue.
Rep. Dan Fernandez, a former actor known for his role in Mara Clara: The Movie (1996) and Rep. Yul Servo, who worked for about two decades on screen, both voted ‘Yes’ to ABS-CBN franchise denial.
While Rep. Alfred Vargas, who started his career in ABS-CBN and Rep. Loren Legarda, the host of the documentary series Dayaw aired on ABS-CBN News Channel both decided to inhibit themselves from voting.
— Alfred Vargas (@AlfredVargasPH) July 10, 2020
I was looking at the list and couldn’t find @loren_legarda . Did she vote for the renewal or against it? Apparently she inhibited herself from voting. Here’s her statement. pic.twitter.com/JNye6WUJON
— julius babao (@juLiusbabao) July 10, 2020
“Thus, out of propriety and as dictated by the law, I am duty-bound to inhibit myself from voting on the application for the franchise of ABS-CBN,” Vargas said.
“I deem appropriate to refrain from participating in view of any potential conflict of interest, whether directly or indirectly, in so promoting my advocacy through this project,” Legarda said.
Vargas and Legarda both cited a conflict of interest’ as the reason for their inhibition.
But this inhibition was called ‘lack of courage’ by the netizens and Kapamilya supporters.
They even compared them to Cong. Vilma Santos-Recto, an actress of the network and the mother of Luis Manzano, also an ABS-CBN artist. If ‘conflict of interest’ is the issue, then how come Cong. Vilma stood for ABS-CBN?
If conflict of interest is really a valid excuse, then pray tell how Cong. Vilma Santos and Cong. Sol Aragones stood by ABSCBN?
Please, we see through you Cong. Loren Legarda, Cong. Alfred Vargas, Cong. Dan Fernandez, and Cong. Yul Servo.
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 10, 2020
Conflict of interest? May I, ladies and gentlemen emphasize that Rep.Vilma Santos-Recto bravely voted NO despite her being the mother of Luis Manzano whom apparently an exclusive talent of ABS, and her being a talent of Star Cinema. What happened to your courage?
— Jennifer Rose Songsong (@queenofdawn_17) July 10, 2020
Walang courage. You are a representative. Hindi ka boboto para sa sarili mo. We will remember your name, we will remember your silence. Same with Rep. Vargas
— Hulyan (@Juls_Laban) July 10, 2020
Wag kang plastic Alfred Vargas.
We will not forget.
QC People, remember this day.#Halalan2022 pic.twitter.com/pkNMMeANtT
— Not The Real Greta, Way Better (@nottherealgreta) July 10, 2020
alfred vargas be like "i cant vote yes just bc im a celebrity it's a conflict of interest" bitch no one knows you anymore
— cj (@uneIixir) July 10, 2020
I can’t even begin to understand…Cong. Loren Legarda at Cong. Alfred Vargas, bakit po?
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) July 10, 2020
On Friday, the House legislative franchises committee released its final verdict on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. With a vote of ’70-11′, congress put an end to the country’s biggest media company.
It is believed that the ‘killing’ of ABS-CBN’s franchise is in adherence to the “kill, kill, kill’ legacy of President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration.
