She may have been unfairly treated by ABS-CBN, but Vice President Leni Robredo said she does not take it personally against the country’s largest media network.
(Mark Balmores / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Robredo said this to drive home her message that the lawmakers who denied ABS-CBN franchise have roles to fulfil as representatives of their constituents.
“Kaya nga representatives iyong tawag, kasi dapat ikaw iyong nagre-represent ng saloobin ng mga constituents mo (This is the why you’re called representatives, you’re supposed to represent the views of your constituents),” she said over dzXL.
The vice president stressed public officials like herself had experienced “unfair” treatment from ABS-CBN, but they should not take it against the broadcast company, especially in this time of pandemic.
“Marami ako ads na hindi na-air. Maraming mga pagkakataon lalo kami na naninilbihan sa taumbayan na nararamdaman namin na hindi fair sa amin...maraming mga taga-ABS-CBN na hindi naging fair sa akin (I have a lot ads which were not aired. There were several instances, especially for us in public service, that we felt it was not fair to us. Many people from ABS-CBN were not fair to me),” Robredo said.
“Pero hindi ito panahon para magsingil ng personal na hinanakit, kasi may mas malaking dahilan, may mas malaking interes tayong pinaglalaban, interes ng lahat ng mga taong umaasa ng trabaho sa ABS (But this is not the time to pursue personal grudges, because of the bigger reasons and interests that we should be fighting for, interest of those who work for ABS),” she added.
An overwhelming majority of the House committee on legislative franchise voted to deny the franchise application of the media network, adopting the recommendation of its technical working group last July 10.
There were only 11 lawmakers who voted to give ABS-CBN its franchise, while two inhibited, and one abstained.