Charles Teves
Actress Nikki Valdez slammed unnamed congressmen for asking ABS-CBN to conduct interviews with them.
It can be remembered that ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year broadcast franchise was denied by Congress. 70 lawmakers voted yes to deny ABS-CBN franchise application which forced the company to retrench thousands of employees as part of its downsizing of operations.
ABS-CBN is still considered the number one entertainment and media conglomerate in the country, so the 70 lawmakers’ request to have interviews with the network is understandable.
“Ngayon nakikiusap kayo gamitin ang ABSCBN para magbigay ng statement? Aanhin mo pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo?” Valdez said in a tweet.
Ngayon nakikiusap kayo gamitin ang ABSCBN para magbigay ng statement?
Aanhin mo pa ang damo, kung patay na ang kabayo?
— NVG (@nikkivaldez_) October 8, 2020
Netizens also praised ABS-CBN for having lawmakers on its programs to shed light on the current issue of who the next House leader would be.
Among media outlets, only ANC thru Matters of Fact and Headstart can have these congressmen be interviewed on the speakership squabble on-air and their statements be the headlines ano. Good job @iamkarendavila @IanEsguerra! https://t.co/dilMo4X6do
— JP (@dumidyeypee) October 8, 2020
Kapamilya reporter Jervis Manahan also previously shared that one lawmaker, who voted to deny ABS-CBN a franchise, asked to do him a favor after he lost his chairmanship post.
In a tweet, Manahan said that the lawmaker’s “PR guy” requested that he allow the congressman to get on ABS-CBN news platforms to air his statement.
“A lawmaker I covered last January, who eventually voted against the ABS-CBN franchise, apparently lost his committee chairmanship at the lower house,” Manahan said.
“This afternoon, the lawmaker’s PR guy is asking if the congressman can air his statement on ABSCBN news platforms,” he added.
Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Velasco’s allies in the House of Representatives were recently stripped of their committee chairmanship amid the House leader issue between the said lawmaker and incumbent speaker Alan Peter Cayetano.
Manahan wasn’t the first to experience something like this.
Fellow ABS-CBN reporter Miguel Dumaual had a similar experience last August. He slammed the politicians for their request following their vote to deny the network a new franchise,
“Isang dambuhalang middle finger sa mga kongresistang nag-re-request ngayon ng coverage sa papogi nila matapos di suportahan ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. We have the widest reach online, and you think we’ll gladly give you that platform after you threw our network into crisis?” Dumaual said.
Likewise, Veteran ABS-CBN journalist and ABS-CBN Digital Head Lynda Jumilla also shared her experience.
Yung bumoto kayo para ipasara ang network, tapos magpapadala kayo ng press release para ipromote ang negosyo ninyo. How to be you po? 😄🙄
— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) July 23, 2020
ABS-CBN just closed a new deal with ZOE TV wherein several of its programs will be aired on the 2Z Channel 11.
