Lapid, Pacquiao stand by ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines — Senators Lito Lapid and Manny Pacquiao openly expressed their support for giant television network ABS-CBN as the Senate on Monday opened its hearing on the network’s compliance with its franchise.

Lapid, who rarely participates in Senate proceedings, joined the hearing of Senate committee on public services and expressed his “automatic biased” for the network.

“Siguro maraming nagtataka dito bigla akong sumulpot sa hearing na ito at wala naman pong kasinungalingan, ang ABS-CBN malapit sa puso ko ‘yan dahil sa ating lahat ng senador, ako lang ang lumabas ng personal na naging artista ng ABS-CBN kaya hindi po nangangahulugan na nandidito ako para ipakita na ako ay biased na, pero automatic naman ‘yun. Ako naman ay tapatan lang,” he said.

(Maybe a lot of you are wondering why I suddenly showed up here and I will not lie about it, ABS-CBN is close my heart because out of all the senators here, I’m the only one who became an artist of ABS-CBN; that’s why it doesn’t mean that my presence would mean that I’m already biased but that’s automatic. I’m just being honest.)

The action star-turned-senator played the role of “Pinuno” in the popular ABS-CBN primetime show, “Ang Probinsyano” until his character died shortly before the May 2019 elections.

“Sinasabi po noong bago mag-hearing dito, lagi kaming nag uusap-usap ng mga kasamahang senador dito, e balik niyo lang pong mabuhay si Pinuno, bahala na sila,” Lapid said in jest.

(They were saying before this hearing, my colleagues and I have always been discussing among ourselves that Pinuno should be revived and they’ll take care of it.)

Pacquiao, who co-authored a bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise, said it would be a big loss for the Filipino people if the network’s franchise expires on March 30, 2020.

But Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra during the hearing said the franchise of ABS-CBN would expire on May 4 this year, and not March 30.

READ: ABS-CBN’s franchise expires on May 4, not March 30 — DOJ chief

Pacquiao noted that because of ABS-CBN, many Filipinos have become well-informed and updated with what’s happening not only in the country but also worldwide.

“In that way siguro dapat tayong magpapapasalamat sa ABS-CBN dahil in that way, nalalaman natin kung may lindol… nalalaman natin lahat. Hindi natin basta basta makakalimutan ‘yung nagkakaroon tayo ng knowledge at informed tayo…” he said.

(In that way, maybe we should be thankful to ABS-CBN because in that way we’re informed if there’s an earthquake… we are informed about everything. We can’t just forget that we gain knowledge and are informed because of ABS-CBN.)

“Kung ano man ang problema nila, kung ano may violation, and then kasuhan sila; pero hindi naman siguro dun sa mapupunta sa closure ng station. Parang malaking kawalan sa buong sambayanang Filipino ang mawala ang ABS-CBN dahil napakalaking tulong ito para sa ating sa bansa na magkaroon ng impromasyon ang bawat isa,” Pacquiao added.

(Whatever their problems are, if there are violations, then file a case but not to the point of closing down the station . The closure of ABS-CBN would be a big loss to the Filipino people because it’s a big help to the country in giving everyone information.)