The ABS-CBN franchise denial will continue to haunt those who were instrumental in making it happen.
This was the case for Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas who even though didn’t say yes to franchise rejection, he chose to inhibit himself from the voting. A cowardly way of saying yes to denial.
Vargas is still being criticized on social media for his hand in the eventual rejection of the ABS-CBN franchise application.
Former Kapamilya reporter Kevin Manalo who was one of the casualties of the painful retrenchment program slammed Vargas for playing the victim card against those who are calling for the boycott of his Metro Manila Film Festival movie, Tagpuan.
In a tweet, Manalo reminded Vargas of his role in the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise.
“Fact: ABSCBN helped your career grow. Fact: When you finally got what you want, you are still working with ABSCBN. Fact: But when ABSCBN needed you, you left them to themselves. Fact: Now that you needed their support for your film, you think it’s ok?” Manalo tweeted.
Fact: ABSCBN helped your career grow.
Fact: When you finally got what you want, you are still working with ABSCBN.
Fact: But when ABSCBN needed you, you left them to themselves.
Fact: Now that you needed their support for your film, you think it’s ok?— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) December 22, 2020
Many netizens are calling for the boycott of his film because of what he did during the congressional voting for the ABS-CBN franchise.
Vargas however maintained that what he did was for the best interest and that he would have voted in favor of ABS-CBN if circumstances permit.
“People called me names. Nabastos tayo. Until now, people use this issue against me and my movie,” he told Inquirer Entertainment during an exclusive Zoom chat. “I just want to set the record straight. I inhibited from voting because of the circumstances that I was in. We want to always follow the law.
“Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion. I’ve already accepted that I have bashers. I just ignore them. I thought, at least we have something to talk about aside from ‘Tagpuan,’” said Alfred. “It’s just that, my parents—especially my mom—taught me that if people are saying wrong things about you, it’s your responsibility to correct them,” he said.
“When it was time to vote on the franchise renewal, my legal team discovered that I have a ‘personal and pecuniary interest’ because I have an outstanding contract with one of the departments of the network that I have to uphold. They said that if I would benefit from the voting, then I surely couldn’t participate. I needed to inhibit out of delicadeza.” Vargas explained.
Vargas is the lead actor and one of the producers of the film which also stars Shaina Magdayao and Iza Calzado.
