Despite ‘turbulent history,’ Imee keeping an open mind on ABS-CBN franchise

MANILA, Philippines —  Senator Imee Marcos said she is keeping an “open mind” on proposals to extend the franchise of giant television network, ABS-CBN,  despite her  “turbulent history” with its owners.

Various bills extending the franchise of ABS-CBN  have remained pending in Congress despite its near expiration in March this year.

“Sa palagay ko kailangang araling mabuti. Huwag  maging personal at least sa akin kasi sobrang personal nila sa amin e,”  Marcos said at the weekly Kapihan sa Senado  on Thursday.

(I think it needs a thorough study. Don’t make it personal, at least to me, because they’ve been too personal on us.)

“Pero ganun  pa man, senador na ako,  pag hinarap yan at dinala yan sa Senado talagang aaralin ko kung talagang monopolya yan. Is that really against the better   welfare of our people…?”

(Despite this,  I’m now a senator and when it reaches the Senate, I’ll really study if there is indeed monopoly. Is that really against the better   welfare of our people…?)

“Tingnan natin. For me, I have an openmind kahit nga masama loob ko katulad ni Presidente at hindi kami enere kahit kelan man okay lang basta  titingnan natin kung ano ba talaga ang sitwasyon,” she said.

(We’ll see. For me, I have an open mind even if I have ill-feelings like  the President, and even if they don’t air us,  it’s okay we will still  look  into it)

President  Rodrigo Duterte has been attacking ABS-CBN for allegedly not airing his paid political advertisements during the  2016  campaign.

“Ang akin naman, wala akong position (I don’t have a stand here). Of course, we’ve had a very turbulent history with the owners of ABS-CBN   but I have an open mind and I will listen and look at every piece of evidence presented,”  Marcos stressed.

Asked  about  the workers  who may lose their job if the  franchise  would not be extended, Marcos   simply assured that their welfare “remains paramount.”

“Ano man ang madesisyunan, huwag namang mawawalan ng hanapbuhay ang empleyado dapat mauna yun, prayoridad  yun whatever arrangement that the government determines yung mga empleyado aasikasuhin yan,” she said.

(Whatever the decision is, I hope that no employees would lose their job. That should be a priority,  whatever  arrangement  the government determines, the employees would be taken care of)

Asked if she still has ill-feeling towards ABS-CBN, Marcos said:  “Hindi ko naman kasi pini-personal.  Okay lang sa akin kahit bina-bump off yung ads, kahit ayaw eere, okay lang. Manhid na e”

(I’m not taking it personally. It’s OK with me even they bump off my ads, even if they don’t want to air them. I’m numbed already.)