A recent photo of Laguna gubernatorial candidate Marisol “Sol” Aragones raising hands with a political figure instrumental in the 2020 ABS-CBN shutdown has sparked outrage, especially among former colleagues like veteran journalist Lynda Jumilla-Abalos.
The image, shared by The Professional Heckler on May 4, 2025, comes just a day before the fifth anniversary of the network’s closure, a date that remains a painful milestone for many in Philippine media.
Even in politics, there are lines you do not cross. https://t.co/BhBNnfNWIt
— Lynda Jumilla-Abalos (@lyndajumilla) May 5, 2025
Both Aragones and Jumilla-Abalos share a history with ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcast network until its franchise renewal was blocked in 2020 under former President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Aragones, a former reporter and news presenter, began her career at ABS-CBN after graduating from the University of the Philippines-Los Baños in 1998. She later served as a Laguna congresswoman from 2013 to 2022, often vocal about her support for the network during its franchise battle. Jumilla-Abalos, a respected political journalist, also worked at ABS-CBN, anchoring key programs and covering the network’s shutdown, which was widely criticized as an attack on press freedom.
Jumilla-Abalos took to X to express her dismay: “Even in politics, there are lines you do not cross.”
Her post, quoting the controversial photo, struck a chord with netizens, many of whom echoed her sentiments. In a follow-up post, she noted the bitter irony of the timing, stating, “So close to the May 5 anniversary of the ABS-CBN shutdown too. Imagine that.”
The shutdown, which followed Duterte’s public threats against ABS-CBN over an election ad dispute, left thousands jobless and silenced a major independent voice in Philippine media.
Kulang ng "d" yung apelyido nya.
Dapat "Sold Aragones".
Sold her soul to the devil.— @jestoni36575494 (@jestoni36589818) May 5, 2025
Public reaction was swift and scathing. X user @jestoni36589818 dubbed Aragones “Sold Aragones,” accusing her of abandoning her principles for political gain.
@Emman_1035 declared, “This solidifies my decision to not vote for Sol Aragones,” while @oedieonekenobi, a self-proclaimed “forever Kapamilya,” apologized to Aragones but withdrew
support.
Hi @sol_aragones sorry, im forever kapamilya. ikaw dapat iboboto ko until i saw this pic.
— Oedieonekenobi (@oedieonekenobi) May 5, 2025
Others, like@lem0nade02, called her actions “disgusting,” recalling her past advocacy for ABS CBN employees. @GuyWithABlog lamented, “She’s proven that those lines don’t exist for her.”
Sadly, she’s proven that those lines don’t exist.
For her, anyway.
— Guy With A (Hibernating) Blog #CovidIsNotOver (@GuyWithABlog) May 5, 2025
The controversy highlights a broader disillusionment with Philippine politics, where personal interests often overshadow past advocacies.
For many, Aragones’s alignment with a figure tied to ABS-CBN’s demise is a betrayal of her roots and a stark reminder of the fragility of media freedom in the country.
