ABS-CBN News reporter Wheng Hidalgo-Otida is back with the Kapamilya network.
The returning Kapamilya reporter has been covering several news reports for quite some time already with her latest news report about the clash between police and family and friends of Reina Nacino after they gathered to commemorate the 40th day of Baby River’s death.
Wheng was one of the ABS-CBN employees who were reinstated to their jobs following NLRC’s order.
Family and supporters of detained activist Reina Nacino, who were hoping to light candles outside the Santo Niño church in Tondo, Manila to commemorate the 40th day since baby River's death, clash with cops who insisted the event did not have permit. | Wheng Hidalgo, ABS-CBN News pic.twitter.com/LZUg46Ulc7
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) November 17, 2020
In June 2003, Hidalgo and three other employees filed cases of regularization, illegal dismissal, and money claims against ABS-CBN.
The case dragged on for years but in February 2020, the National Labor Relation Commission order ABS-CBN to reinstate Hidalgo, and the other three (one of the employees included died 2 months after the release of the order).
The order however was not immediately complied with due to the pandemic restrictions and also because of the eventual shutdown of ABS-CBN when its franchise expired in May and the rejection of their franchise renewal in July.
But all is well that ends well for Wheng as she is now back in ABS-CBN News’s fold.
Meanwhile, she was one of those resource persons invited to the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to shed light on ABS-CBN’s labor case issues.
While ABS-CBN oppositors led by Marcoleta, Defensor, and Remulla tried to turn Hidalgo against ABS-CBN during her congressional appearance, she said that she said she was hoping that ABS-CBN will be given a franchise so that she can go back to work.
Hidalgo also revealed that she accepted ABS-CBN’s offer to pay her 16-year tenure and start with the company as a new employee given the current situation of the company.
“Bilang malasakit din sa company dahil alam din namin yung kanilang pinagdaraanan ngayon,” she said.
In February, Wheng also slammed those who are trying to use her case as propaganda against ABS-CBN.
In her social media post, Wheng said her case is already in court and she cannot allow anyone to use it for their personal agenda.
“I don’t understand why a 10-YEAR-OLD ARTICLE would be used by some to create a different narrative and relate it to a divisive issue hounding us today.” Hidalgo wrote.
“I have kept my silence about this case for years, but FOR THE SAKE OF FAIRNESS I am speaking out now. ABS-CBN may not be perfect but it was a big part of my life. I will always be grateful for the years I’ve spent there. Whatever happened along the way in the past is one chapter of my own story. I have since healed and have moved forward. I am not TRYING TO RIDE ALONG with the issue.
“So I ASK ALL THOSE PUSHING THEIR OWN INTERESTS, please STOP using my labor case against the company as it is still in the court. Thank you,” she added.
