Former bold star and a DDS, Vivian Velez dips her dirty finger once more in the issue of ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
In her recent Facebook post, Velez shared a video interview with another DDS and main ABS-CBN oppositionist Sagip Buhay Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta. Both talked about the fresh moves to renew the Kapamilya network’s franchise.
Velez said, “An expired franchise cannot be the subject of a renewal… di naman ako senador, ba’t alam ko ‘to tsk tsk tsk. Parang ‘iskol bukol’ lang ang peg nila, ngek!…Korek po, Cong Marcoleta!”
Velez’s comment surfaced after renewed talks about the ABS-CBN franchise.
In December, Buhay Partylist and Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza teased hope for ABS-CBN franchise renewal in 2021. According to the congressman, he is confident that the House leadership will finally rectify the injustice did to the Kapamilya network after the 70 Cayetano-led congressmen voted to reject ABS-CBN franchise application in July 2020.
“Hindi hula yun, that’s a reality mangyayari ‘yun,” Atienza said
“I am really confident, justice will prevail by next year,” banggit niya.
“They were maltreated, they were eventually assassinated, so they should be given justice.”
In the Senate, Senate President Tito Sotto on January 4, filed a bill aiming to give ABS-CBN another fresh 25-year franchise.
“ABS-CBN is still the top choice of viewers in the Philippines as its viewers nationwide prefer to catch relevant news and inspiring TV series on ABS-CBN as the network registered an average audience share of 45%or 14 points higher than GMA’s 31%,” said Sotto in the bill.
“ABS-CBN’s wide reach to Filipinos, alongside the undeniable advantages of broadcast media relative to mass communication, definitely calls for the immediate renewal of the network’s franchise.”
The House of Representatives followed suit as Lipa Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto is set to file the counterpart bill.
Meanwhile, Velez being a die-hard Duterte supporter was one of those who celebrate and rejoice in the rejection of the ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
Despite being appointed as the director of the Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), an organization built to serve as a support to various guilds in the movie industry, she instead chose to contradict her mission by not favoring the appeal of one of the largest broadcasting companies in the country.
And even as she was a former talent of the Network and being part of teleseryes like Tubig at Langis and the Moonstone trilogy, she chose to oppose the renewal of her former Network.