While rival TV network GMA-7 has advised its talents to take a leave of absence should they still decide to endorse candidates, ABS-CBN, on the other hand, issued a statement to the effect that their talents should not be banned to endorse candidates.
ABS-CBN said that their talents are not subject to the pertinent provisions of the Fair Elections Act as they are not employees.
Below is the statement of ABS-CBN:
“Ang panawagan para mag-leave ang mga ABS-CBN talents na nag-eendorso ng mga kandidato sa kasagsagan ng kampanyang pampulitika ay hindi kinakailangan sa Fair Election Act at sa mga kaugnay nitong batas at regulasyon.
“Ang sinasabi lamang sa Section 36 ng Comelec Resolution No. 8758 kaugnay sa Section 1 (4) at sa Fair Election Act ay hindi nararapat na gamitin ng sinumang media practitioner tulad ng mga talent o artista ang kanilang oras sa kanilang shows sa telebisyon o radyo para tangkilikin ang sinumang kandidato.
“Kaya naman nag-isyu ng polisiya ang ABS-CBN na nagbabawal sa mga talent na gamitin ang kanilang mga programa para mag-endorso ng pulitiko at ito ay mahigpit na ipinatutupad ng kumpanya.
“Ang probisyon sa batas na binanggit ng PPCRV at ng Comelec na humihiling sa media personalities na magbitiw sa trabaho o mag-leave ay sumasaklaw sa mga empleyado lamang.
“Ang mga talent ay hindi mga empleyado ng network kaya hindi sila kabilang sa probisyon ng pagbabawal na binabanggit ng PPCRV at Comelec.”
2 Comments
Masyado namang tineteknikal ng ABS ang isyung ito eh.
The bottom line here is ABS “talents” who endorse candidates are giving those candidates undue advantage over those who don’t have celebrity endorsers although it is a good thing that the network prohibits their “talents” from using the company’s resources to endorse a particular candidate.
Take Kris for example. She may not directly tell the televiewers on air to vote for Noynoy, but when an issue arises regarding Noynoy in whatever form during the election period, it becomes a topic of talk shows, which she is a host.
At dahil napaguusapan on air, hindi ba unfair sa iba yun?
Well, may vested interest kasi ang station…may pinapanigan…yun lang un…
Better ask, why GMA has immediately told its talents to follow the law…ang ABS eh nagmamatigas…coz they are biased…Lopezes at the helm of the business…