Through an Instagram post on Thursday, July 2, the same day joint hearings for the franchise renewal bills of the media conglomerate resumed in Congress, Kapamilya artist Melai Cantiveros asked her followers to pray for the congressmen who are in charge of tackling ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
To recall, ABS-CBN Network signed-off following the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease-and-desist order after its franchise expired on May 4.
As hearings for ABS-CBN’s franchise resumed on Tuesday, June 30, the National Telecommunications Commission dealt another blow to the embattled network by serving two cease-and-desist orders directing ABS-CBN to shut down its TV Plus operations which is currently airing some of the network’s shows through cable and satellite television, and SKY’s direct-to-home satellite transmission nationwide.
Using the hashtags #IbalikAngABSCBN and #WeNeedABSCBN, the 32-year-old TV personality wrote, “Humihingi po ako ng tulong sa patuloy na pagdarasal na magabayan ng maayos [ang] desisyon ng ating mga kongresista, na sana ay para sa kabutihan ng lahat at di sa pansarili at makamundo lamang.
“‘Di po ‘yan deserve ng mga boss namin na ‘di man lang makatapos sumagot, tanong naman, nasasaktan po kami kasi ang bubuti ng mga boss namin. Maaring ‘di rin alam ng boss namin ang mga nangyayari sa ilalim, kaya sana mabigyan na po kami [hand praying emojis] Lord,” she added.
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Meanwhile, Cantiveros’ co-host in the morning talk show, Karla Estrada has also pleaded for Congress’ mercy for all workers of ABS-CBN who are in danger of losing their jobs.
“Maawa naman po kayo sa libo-libong pamilya na maaaring magutom ‘pag nawalan ng trabaho. Have mercy,” Estrada remarked.
As House hearings resumed, tax allegations against broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. were brought up again by a lawmaker who insinuated that the company has been shirking on paying taxes by using its subsidiaries overseas.
The hearings have been plagued what seems to be delaying tactics by oppositors of the franchise while the media conglomerate continues to bleed 30-35M in revenues daily since its May 5 shutdown.
