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<img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.kahimyang.com/resources-9/politicians-abs-cbn-sm.webp" alt="Politicans with vested ABS-CBN interests" />

(ABS-CBN's politicians)

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Last July 10, 2020, the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises decided against the enactment of a new franchise for ABS-CBN. The network's last franchise expired on May 4, 2020.


Under the rules of the House governing the legislative process, the decision of the committee effectively spelled the end for any possibility of ABS-CBN getting a new franchise.


At that time the committee was deliberating on the ABS-CBN franchise application, nobody among the House contested the foregoing House rule. Now that the House has voted against ABS-CBN, several House members are now demanding special treatment for the network by insisting that the entire House of Representatives vote on the issue.


The move is led by Atienza, who had early on insisted that favorable action be accorded to ABS-CBN. His zeal made him pick a quarrel with SAGIP Party Representative Rodante Marcoleta and Cavite Representative Jesus Crispin "Boying" Remulla.

Surprisingly, that meddling Atienza is not even a member of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.


Atienza should have refrained from getting involved in the ABS-CBN franchise hearing because his son Kim Atienza works for the network.


In a press interview after the committee vote was taken, Atienza even referred to his son's regular weather forecasts on ABS-CBN. Without regard for proper English, the elder Atienza branded the committee's vote as a "wrong mistrial."


All in all, the word delicadeza is not in Joselito Atienza's vocabulary.


Parañaque Representative Joy Myra Tambunting joined Atienza's call for a plenary House vote. Tambunting used to work as a producer for ABS-CBN.


Laguna Representative Mirasol "Sol" Aragones and Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto, both members of the House Committee, voted in favor of a new franchise for ABS-CBN. Aragones used to be a journalist at ABS-CBN. Santos-Recto has business ties with ABS-CBN, which broadcasts reruns of her old movies through the network's affiliates.


To protect the House from accusations of affording special treatment to ABS-CBN, Tambunting, Aragones and Santos-Recto should have inhibited themselves from any involvement in the franchise hearing. Like Atienza, the three solons have no sense of delicadeza.


For voting in favor of ABS-CBN, the three solons can be sued for conflict of interest.


Antique Representative Loren Legarda used to be a newscaster at ABS-CBN, and she currently maintains a documentary TV program in the network. Quezon City Representative Alfred Vargas once worked for ABS-CBN. Unlike the other politicians mentioned earlier, Legarda and Vargas at least had the decency to abstain from voting.


Legarda cited "conflict of interest," while Vargas said he inhibited "out of propriety and as dictated by law."


Despite conflict of interest, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Ralph Recto, Grace Poe and Juan Edgardo "Sonny" Angara brazenly breached the dividing line between both houses of Congress and publicly urged Congress to enact a new franchise for ABS-CBN.


Pangilinan, known also as "Mr. Noted" among election lawyers, is married to veteran actress and TV personality Sharon Cuneta, who has past and current business interests in ABS-CBN. Recto is married to Batangas Representative Vilma Santos-Recto who, as mentioned earlier, has commercial ties with the network.


Poe, the ex-American citizen turned senator, also has business interests in ABS-CBN. She is the adopted daughter of veteran actress Susan Roces, who appears in the network's productions. ABS-CBN also broadcasts old movies of her adopted father, the late film star Fernando Poe Jr., also through network affiliates.


Angara's wife Elvira "Tootsy" Echauz is an executive at ABS-CBN. She is the network's cluster head for sales.

Atienza, Tambunting, Vilma Santos, Mr. Sharon Cuneta - politicians with vested interests in ABS-CBN