GMA Network and ABS-CBN are considered the top two media companies in the country and both share certain rivalries in certain aspects.
But ABS-CBN hasn’t been on air since May 5 after the NTC issued a cease and desist order against it which is causing the network to lose around P30 to P35 million a day.
Monday’s congressional hearing for the franchise renewal lasted for 10 hours where the lawmakers’ personal issues against ABS-CBN was the main topic.
Kapuso personalities have shown their support for ABS-CBN and they still feel that the network should be given a new franchise.
Sandra Aguinaldo is with GMA but she is worried about the people working for ABS-CBN. It was mentioned by ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak that a retrenchment of employees is inevitable by August if nothing good comes out of the hearings.
This Kapuso is thinking of her Kapamilya friends.
— sandra aguinaldo (@sandraguinaldo) July 6, 2020
Ivan Mayrina used to work for ABS-CBN and voiced his support for his former colleagues.
Respeto at pakikiisa, mga kasamang taga Mother Ignacia.
— ivan mayrina (@ivanmayrina) July 6, 2020
Raffy Tima, on the other hand, mentioned Jeff Canoy and Doland Castro, showing his support for them during this trying time.
Kapit lang!
— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) July 6, 2020
Pagpupugay Kuyang, mabuhay kayo. ✊🏼
— Raffy Tima (@raffytima) July 5, 2020
The only thing ‘Kapamilyas’ can do is to hold on which is exactly the advice of Darlene Cay.
Looking forward to still covering alongside you, Kapamilyas. Kapit lang.
— Darlene Cay (@DarleneCay) July 6, 2020
Atom Araullo thinks that Rep. Mike Defensor’s remarks during the last hearing were personal more than anything else.
If this isn’t a clear indication that ABS-CBN’s franchise woes is a press freedom issue, I don’t know what is.
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) July 6, 2020
In fact, KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas) president Jun Nicdao told lawmakers that ABS-CBN is generally fair in reporting news, with only 11 complaints since 2010, 8 of which were already settled.
“In general po, masasabi po natin, for the most part fair po ang ABS-CBN. Of course, as they said, they are not perfect,” Nicdao told lawmakers at the 12th hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise application.
“Mayroon po akong listahan ng mga reklamo against them since 2010, umaabot po ng 11 ang reklamo against them, ranging from offensive words to biased reporting na sinasabi…’Yung 8 po, naresolve between the parties.
“Ang maganda naman po sa ABS, basta nagkaroon ng ganitong kaso, nire-resolve po nila, and if they made a mistake, they promise to reform. They always try to correct whatever mistake they have done,” Nicdao said.
The KBP also receives more complaints from provinces than ABS-CBN, and Nicdao doesn’t think ABS-CBN is a major violator.
“Pangkaraniwan po ito. In fact, I would say actually mas marami po kaming naririnig na kaso sa mga miyembro po natin sa probinsya… Hindi po malala ‘yung sa kanila. May mas malala pa sa kanila,” he explained.
Nicdao also supports ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal.