ABS-CBN’s franchise is up for voting on Monday, July 6. As the network waits for its fate at the hands of Congress, Kapamilya personalities and supporters have posted their sentiments on social media.
Host Robi Domingo posted, “I have been part of ABS-CBN since 2008 but it has been part of my life since I was a kid. It taught me values, gave me entertainment, and instilled in me the idea of always being in the service of the Filipino. #KapamilyaForever”
I have been part of ABS-CBN since 2008 but it has been part of my life since I was a kid. It taught me values, gave me entertainment, and instilled in me the idea of always being in the service of the Filipino. #KapamilyaForever pic.twitter.com/qpWi1KqAmG
— Robi Domingo (@robertmarion) July 3, 2020
Marietta Subong, known for her stage name “Pokwang, posted on Twitter, “Para sa mga kaibigan kong camera man, makeup artists, utility, security guard, drivers, janitors, event marshals, #IbalikAngABSCBN sila talaga ang pinaka kinakaawaan ko please sa mga mangbabatas Po kahit para sakanila nalang po sila na tunay na dapat lingunin nyo.”
Para sa mga kaibigan kong camera man, makeup artists, utility, security guard, drivers, janitors, event marshals, #IbalikAngABSCBN sila talaga ang pinaka kinakaawaan ko please sa mga mangbabatas Po kahit para sakanila nalang po sila na tunay na dapat lingunin nyo
pic.twitter.com/3SqfDxLB2N
— marietta subong (@pokwang27) July 3, 2020
Singer Martin Nievera shared his sentiments through a long Instagram post. The post included a tribute for ABS-CBN. “As we reach the end of this very painful hearing let me just share with you how affected I am. I am not a lawyer nor do I consider myself a smart man. But I am a kapamilya. A proud kapamilya. I just don’t understand how anyone could want abs-cbn out of the picture completely and not give us a chance to correct our mistakes, right all our wrongs and continue to serve the Filipino people all over the world.
“Why would anyone want to stop us from doing what God intended us to do and that is to inform, inspire, and entertain. We could help all those who unite this country by having us up and running. Who would want to stop us from doing good? Who would stop us from wanting to be better? If given a new franchise I believe we could prove ourselves worthy and we could show those who believe in us that we can be better and not repeat whatever mistakes we have made in the past. Who would want us to NOT have that chance to self improve and just cut us off? Why would anyone want that?
“Again, I am not a smart man and I may not know all the facts, but I do know that the Philippines will be incomplete without abs cbn and anyone who just wants to pull the plug for whatever reasons is not thinking of the greater good. Why would you not want to complete our city of networks by giving abs cbn a new franchise? It’s like you took a beautiful picture of our country and deleted one of its well known beautiful historical sights.
“Please help us pray to keep abs cbn so we can prove ourselves worthy of this second chance. Please pray those who hold the key to our destiny will think of the greater good and make their decision without anger or spite. Let us continue to serve the Filipino people all over the world. We can do better. We can be better. We just need a chance to prove that we can. #kapamilyaforever”
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCKx8QUpqug/?igshid=14u222hkh3zu0
Meanwhile, Kapamilya singer Jona asked the Congress to consider thousands of workforce in ABS-CBN.
Using the hashtag #WeNeedABSCBN, she said, “Hindi man po perpekto ang ABS-CBN, katulad din po ng iba pang nakararaming pribadong kumpanya at organisasyon, kasama na rin po ang sarili nating pamahalaan – hindi perpekto – marami ring pagkukulang at pagkakamali.. Pero sana po ay mabigyan natin ng pagkakataon na ayusin ang mga kakulangan na to.
“Sana po maisaalang-alang ng ating mga mambabatas ang libo-libong Pilipino na nabibigyan ng trabaho ng ABS-CBN (na nanganganib mawalan ng kabuhayan, sa gitna pa po ng kahirapan na dulot ng pandemiya).
“Sana rin po, alalahanin at timbangin din po ang mga makabuluhang naiambag ng ABS-CBN sa lipunan, sa ekonomiya, pati na rin po ang mga nagawang extensive na pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin, lalo na sa panahon ng kahirapan, sakuna, kagipitan, magmula noon, hanggang ngayon.. 
”
— JONA (@MsJ0NA) July 3, 2020
ABS-CBN anchor Julius Babao firmly believes that the issue is no longer just about an expired franchise but deliberate political persecution and oppression. The anchor responded with a “yes” last Wednesday, July 1, from Jerome Sicat that states, “What’s happening to @ABSCBN is no longer a case of an expired franchise, but political persecution, oppression, and opportunism.”
Philip Lustre Jr. echoed the sentiment. “WHAT’S happening to ABS-CBN is no longer a case of an expired franchise, but political persecution, oppression, and opportunism. It has gone beyond the normal. The attack dogs of a mentally unstable president have a heyday of what appears to be the surreal and unnatural.”
Some senators, namely Sonny Angara, Risa Hontiveros, and Kiko Pangilinan, also voiced out their concerns about the franchise renewal hearings in Congress. They noted how ABS-CBN has been treated very differently from other companies who also underwent a franchise renewal process
“[It’s] very unfair given the treatment of other franchise holders whose franchises expired [but] were allowed to operate while their applications were pending with Congress,” said Angara in a report by Inquirer.
In a tweet, Angara stated, “It’s painful to watch the government [become] the cause of so much suffering and hardship for thousands of ordinary working Filipinos.”
“Especially because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, we need to uphold freedom of the press, secure the rights and welfare of workers and improve the public’s access to life-saving information,” said Sen. Hontiveros
“The lust for power will continue unless the court or the people will end it by opposing and condemning it,” Pangilinan said. He also added, “We should not be afraid to speak up and criticize the abuses and failure of leadership in our country.”
Various government agencies like the DOJ, BIR, PEZA, DOLE, and even NTC have attested to ABS-CBN being compliant with their respective rules and regulations.
