ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes made a stand for the media company at the joint hearing of the Committees on Legislative Franchises and Good Government and Public Accountability on the ABS-CBN franchise last Tuesday, June 30.
The House tackled the status of contractual workers at ABS-CBN as part of the deliberation on whether the network should be given a legislative franchise or not.
Vidanes said that ABS-CBN contractual employees are assured of their jobs depending on the duration of their work.
Vidanes, on having a contract for program employees: “[The advantages are] security of tenure, stability. They are assured that they are engaged by a specific program for a certain period of time. May assurance sila na may trabaho sila habang may kontrata sila.”
Answering the question of Agusan del Norte 1st District Representative Lawrence Fortun who asked why the network is unable to regularize their program workers, Vidanes explained:
“Kasi po ‘yung uniqueness ng industry po namin ay dahil walang program po that stays on the air forever. Lahat po ng programa talaga, may simula, may katapusan. So mahirap pong gawing regular ‘yong uncertainty no’ng programa on air…. If they are all regulars, what will they do without a program?” Vidanes said.
Atty. Josabeth Alonso of ABS-CBN also said that having program employees or independent contractors in their broadcasting company was never declared illegal by DOLE.
Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta later threw his question to Vidanes wherein he likened ABS-CBN’s situation to her husband committing a mistake.
Marcoleta asked Vidanes, “Kung nakagawa ng kasalanan ang asawa n’yo? Pwede ba nating gamitin yung kabaitan at pagtulong sa kapwa para yung paglabag sa batas ay mapatawad?
Vidanes then calmly responded to his question by saying: “Depende po siguro sa kasalanan, Mr. Chair. Siguro kung jaywalking lang naman, mapapatawad ko po.”
Vidanes then immediately received praises online for professionally answering the questions thrown at her regarding the alleged labor violations of ABS-CBN. Many netizens slammed several lawmakers for “bullying” Vidanes at the said hearing.
Here are some netizens who reacted on Twitter:
Slow claps for Ma'am Cory Vidanes for showing the congress what professionalism looks like.#IbalikAngABCBN #ABSCBNfranchise
— Raf ᗢ (@VisMaximoff) June 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/jcdlatayan/status/1277598171472920577?s=20
Remulla, how do you want Ms. Cory Vidanes, in your own language po? Balasubas?! Barubalan? And no matter what, you dont understand the nature of work ng mga ito. #IbalikAngABSCBN
— Nhilanhils (@NhilaNhils) June 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/iMeAnMG/status/1277887828307767297?s=20
https://twitter.com/brnbrbn_/status/1277598551111917570?s=20
https://twitter.com/steffieunice/status/1277884310310305792?s=20
Bakit ba ini-insist ni Marcoleta ang gusto nya?! Butt hurt ba siya sa dami ng mga nagawa na charity work and help ABS-CBN extended to the country? Kasi he wouldn't let go of his question kahit Cory Vidanes answered him! Nothing is enough! #ABSCBNfranchise
— Chelsea Arisse (@ChelseaArisse) June 30, 2020
ABS-CBN COO Cory Vidanes: Nakakalungkot pong isipin na malapit na ang posibleng retrenchnent… Ang mga pamilya po namin ay puno na ng pangangamba at takot… Mahirap pong maghanap ng trabaho sa panahon ng pandemya. ‘Yon po ang bumabagabag sa mga puso nila. #IbalikAngABSCBN
— Jesselee Tintiangko (@JTintiangko) June 30, 2020
Teary eyed with Tita Cory Vidanes' statement when asked what the employees are feeling now that the franchise is still pending.
— Chelsea Arisse (@ChelseaArisse) June 30, 2020
https://twitter.com/iAmMrsHeath/status/1277885614679945221?s=20
EWAN KO NA LANG KUNG HINDI PA MAINTINDIHAN ANG EXPLANATION NI MAM CORY VIDANES! Hindi applicable maging regular lahat because it will vary on the available show or program. Please note that Sol and Marcoleta! #ABSCBNfranchise
— Chelsea Arisse (@ChelseaArisse) June 30, 2020
