Laguna’s 3rd District Representative Sol Aragones made an appeal to President Rodrigo Duterte to change his heart over the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN for the sake of thousands of employees could possibly lose their job if ever that the television network giant closes.

In a statement, Aragones who worked as a Kapamilya broadcaster from 1998 to 2012 said that the latest suggestion of President Rodrigo Duterte to the owners of ABS-CBN to sell the company to other businessmen could still affect the livelihood of 11,000 employees of the said network.

“I appeal to the President to reconsider his position on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, as its non-renewal or its sale to third parties may threaten the livelihoods of over 11,000 employees––many of whom I worked with during my stint as a reporter in the network,” said Aragones.

Aragones is hopeful that President Duterte could still change his mind as she witnessed how the chief executive care for his people.

“The President has consistently displayed tapang and malasakit during his tenure in Malacañang, and I appreciate and respect how these have translated to policy pronouncements,” she said.

“As chairman of the House Committee on Tourism, I have personally seen firsthand how presidential directives with regard to Boracay and Manila Bay have resulted in the successful rehabilitation of these two tourist spots and the strict implementation of environmental laws that will preserve these sites for generations to come,” she added.

Meanwhile, Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez said that they’re going to investigate the complaints against ABS-CBN so they could find out if the television network is deserved for franchise renewal.

“Does the President and many others who have made statements against ABS-CBN’s election coverage and election ad placement system, have a legitimate grievance against ABS-CBN? Did ABS-CBN violate the provisions of its franchise?” Alvarez stressed.

“Can ABS-CBN credibly defend its privilege of being granted a renewal of its franchise? These are just some of the questions that our committee will seek to answer when we conduct hearings on the matter once Congress resumes session three weeks from now,” he added.

ABS-CBN is the biggest network in the Philippines and its franchise is set to expire in March this year.

President Duterte until now is still opposing the franchise renewal because of past issues.

Former Senator Bam Aquino bids farewell to one of the most challenging years in his career.

On his Instagram post, Aquino posted a photo of his family with a caption about the failures he experienced last year.

It can be remembered that Aquino failed to get enough votes to get re-elected as Senator, placed 14th last senatorial elections with 14,144,923 votes.

However, the former Senator said that he “didn’t break” because of his “faith”.

“Goodbye 2019. More downs than ups this year. Heartache and disappointment as well. But how can I complain? I was brought to the breaking point, but I didn’t break. My Faith was tested, but I found out it’s real, and it’s strong. How can I complain?” said Aquino.

Aquino also mentioned that despite being defeated in politics last year, his family is still there and he’s still full of hope this 2020.

“Buo ang aking pamilya and my heart is full of hope. So 2020, come fast, come quick and be better than the last. May this New Year be filled with faith, with love, with hope and belief, that through it all, we are in the palm of His hands!” he added.

Some netizens even noticed that Aquino changed his looks a little bit, from being clean-shaven, the former Senator is now having beard and mustache.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

Goodbye 2019. More downs than ups this year. Heartache and disappointment as well. But how can I complain? I was brought to the breaking point, but I didn’t break. My Faith was tested, but I found out it’s real, and it’s strong. How can I complain? Buo ang aking pamilya and my heart is full of hope. So 2020, come fast, come quick and be better than the last. May this New Year be filled with faith, with love, with hope and belief, that through it all, we are in the palm of His hands!

A post shared by @ bamaquino on Dec 30, 2019 at 7:56pm PST

Even blogger RJ “Thinking Pinoy” Nieto who called Bam as a cosplayer of his uncle former Sen. Ninoy Aquino couldn’t stop himself from praising the looks of the politician.

“He actually looks better after he stopped cosplaying Ninoy,” said Nieto.

The future political plans of Aquino is not yet known yet as it seems that he’s still spending his free time with his family.

Senator Leila De Lima criticized the Duterte administration on December 30 over the “rain twisting and propaganda” after the US allegedly banned the entry of government officials involved in her detention.

On a series of tweets, De Lima said that the administration kept spreading lies even during the holiday season just insist that she was being given due process.

The lady senator argued that she was not given a fair trial and accused the witnesses of giving a scripted statement against her.

“Huwag ako. Paskong-pasko sinungaling pa rin kayo. Magbabagong taon, baka gusto n’yong magbagong buhay din? It is axiomatic in the law that the process should be fair and just. Saan ang fair and just sa ginawa n’yo sa akin?” said De Lima.

“Para n’yo nang sinabi na makatarungan din ang pagpako kay Hesus dahil may proseso naman. Dumaan naman kay Poncio Pilato. Huwag n’yong kalimutan na naghugas kamay si Poncio Pilato, gaya ninyo. At ng mga testigo niyong rehearsed at scripted,” she added.

Para n'yo nang sinabi na makatarungan din ang pagpako kay Hesus dahil may proseso naman. Dumaan naman kay Poncio Pilato. Huwag n'yong kalimutan na naghugas kamay si Poncio Pilato, gaya ninyo. At ng mga testigo niyong rehearsed at scripted.

— Leila de Lima (@SenLeiladeLima) December 30, 2019

She also warned the people behind her detention that they cannot defeat the “divine justice”.

“Umupa pa yata kayo ng acting coach. Sa loob ng korte sintunado mga testigo n’yo. Baka gusto n’yong kumuha na rin ng voice coach? You can never silence or defeat the truth! Divine justice is mightier than all of you combined,” she said.

Umupa pa yata kayo ng acting coach. Sa loob ng korte sintunado mga testigo n'yo. Baka gusto n'yong kumuha na rin ng voice coach?

You can never silence or defeat the truth! Divine justice is mightier than all of you combined.

— Leila de Lima (@SenLeiladeLima) December 30, 2019

A few days ago, two American senators claimed that US President Donald Trump signed the 2020 budget which includes the entry ban against De Lima’s accusers.

As a response, the Duterte administration banned two American Senators, Richard Durbin and Patrick Leahy from entering the Philippine territory.

They’re also planning to require all Americans of getting a visa before visiting the Philippines.

American Senator Richard Durbin urged the Duterte administration to free Senator Leila De Lima instead of implementing new visa rules for US citizens who wanted to enter the Philippine territory.

In a statement, Durbin who’s a Senator from Illinois mentioned that there are many Filipino-Americans are working in his place and making them required to get a visa before visiting the Philippines could affect them.

Like Senator Patrick Leahy, Durbin also suggested to the Philippine government to just free Senator Leila De Lima instead of putting new visa rules for Americans.

Durbin also described De Lima’s charges as “highly questionable”.

“Illinois is proudly home to a vibrant, hardworking Filipino community. The Duterte regime should stop threatening the travel of these Filipino Americans and so many others who travel between our nations, and instead release Senator de Lima or assure a quick and credible trial,” Durbin said.

“This strong-arm tactic is an insult to the Filipino American community and country’s democracy,” he added.

Read my statement on the continued detention of Philippine Senator Leila de Lima by the government of the Philippines and President Rodrigo Duterte: pic.twitter.com/e4nsS8rvuy

— Senator Dick Durbin (@SenatorDurbin) December 30, 2019

On December 27, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the Bureau of Immigration to deny Senator Durbin and Leahy from entering the Philippine territory for pushing for the entry-ban against government officials who were involved in the detention of De Lima.

The Duterte admin also said that if the US enforced the entry ban, they’re going to require all Americans to get a visa before being allowed to travel to the Philippines.

“Should a ban from entry into US territory be enforced against Philippine officials involved in – or by reason of – Senator de Lima’s lawful detention, this government will require all Americans intending to come to the Philippines to apply and secure a visa before they can enter Philippine territory,” Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

President Rodrigo Duterte renewed his warning to ABS-CBN telling the television network giant to sell their company because he’s not sure if their franchise is still going to get renewed.

In a speech before quake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato, Duterte said that the people have the chance now to take revenge against ABS-CBN.

The television network’s franchise is set to expire in March 2020 and until now, the Congress is not yet discussing the renewal of ABS-CBN.

“Itong ABS (CBN), mag-expire ang contract ninyo. Mag-renew kayo, ewan ko lang kung may mangyari diyan. Kung ako sa inyo ipagbili niyo na ‘yan,” Duterte said in a speech before quake victims in M’lang, North Cotabato.

“Kasi ang mga Pilipino ngayon lang makaganti sa inyong kalokohan. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,” he added.

The statement of the President was followed by applause from the audience.

Duterte made his statement after the Congress failed to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal in 2019.

If ABS-CBN failed to get franchise renewal, they’re required to stop their broadcast network which being feared by its employees.

Some celebrities and supporters of ABS-CBN even appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to change his heart and let the franchise renewal of the said network proceed.

However, despite the appeals he received, President Duterte remained firm in his decision not to renew to franchise of ABS-CBN.

“Ang inyong franchise mag-end next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan , I’m sorry. You’re out. I will see to it that you’re out,”he said in a speech delivered in Malacañang last December 3.

One of the reasons why President Duterte doesn’t want ABS-CBN to continue its operation is because of not airing his political campaign in 2016.

Twitter users came to rescue SEA Games gold medalist Carlos Yulo from the criticisms he received from the netizens after he revealed that he supports President Rodrigo Duterte.

Yulo raised the eyebrows of some netizens on social media after he made a positive response to a fan who asked if he supports the President.

The high number of criticisms made Yulo delete his tweet and made a clarification that he’s not well-aware of what’s happening in the country.

However, some Twitter users expressed their support to Yulo and defended him from his critics.

Some of the Yulo’s supporters said that what some netizens are doing to the gymnast is “disgusting”.

“People condemning Carlos Yulo for supporting Duterte is so disgusting. I mean I got friends who are Duterte supporters and we’re still friends. Your political stance doesn’t entirely define you,” netizen @npaperpen said.

People condemning Carlos Yulo for supporting Duterte is so f*cking disgusting. I mean I got friends who are Duterte supporters and we’re still friends. Your political stance doesn’t entirely define you. So STFU.

— Trave Missoe (@NPaperpen) December 28, 2019

Netizen @iskonglasalista said that some of the netizens are becoming a “dictator” as they criticized Yulo because his beliefs are different from them.

“After questioning the legitimacy of the 2019 SEA Games gold medal wins of Agatha Wong because of her being of Chinese descent, the Yellows and Reds on social media now attack Carlos Yulo because the kid supports President Duterte. Guess who is being a dictator and intolerant now?” @iskonglasalista twitted.

After questioning the legitimacy of the 2019 SEA Games gold medal wins of Agatha Wong because of her being of Chinese descent, the Yellows and Reds on social media now attack Carlos Yulo because the kid supports President Duterte. Guess who is being a dictator and intolerant now?

— Benedict Exconde (@iskonglasalista) December 29, 2019

@krizha_quieen wrote on her social media page that the support of Yulo to Duterte is understandable as the President assisted the athletes.

“Why so mad at Carlos Yulo supporting the president like people shut up… anyway only during Duterte‘s administration where Filipino athletes receive their hard-worked money, compared to the past administration even one incentive Filipino athletes does not receive as much,” 

Why so mad at carlos yulo supporting the president like people shut up… anyway only during Duterte's administration where filipino athletes receives their hard worked money, compared to the past administration even one incentives filipino athletes does not receives as much..

— Namjoon ? (@krizha_queen) December 28, 2019

@RealMRAccount urged the netizens not to force Yulo to change his beliefs.

“Ang akin lang naman, pakialam ng katamihan sa political views nya? Yun ang paniniwala nya so LET HIM believe it. We can’t just shade the rest because we want them to believe what we like,” @realmraaccount remarked.

Carlos Yulo is being bashed by all these people just because he supports DU30/Duterte.

Ang akin lang naman, pakialam ng katamihan sa political views nya? Yun ang paniniwala nya so LET HIM believe it. We can't just shade the rest because we want them to believe what we like.

— TheRealMR (@RealMRAccount) December 28, 2019

Yulo who gave two golds and five silver medals in the last Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in his latest post said that he’s willing to learn from the people who wanted to teach him about what’s really happening with the country.

“At 19 alam ko pong marami pa kong mga kailangan matutunan bilang tao at bilang mabuting Pilipino. Maraming salamat po sa mga taong gusto akong imulat at ieducate sa estado ng Bansa. Everyday is a chance to learn,” said Yulo.

At 19 alam ko pong marami pa kong mga kailangan matutunan bilang tao at bilang mabuting Pilipino. Maraming salamat po sa mga taong gusto akong imulat at ieducate sa estado ng Bansa. Everyday is a chance to learn. ?? https://t.co/xVZvfP8uhg

— Carlos Edriel Yulo (@c_edrielzxs) December 28, 2019

A netizen even asked Yulo to talk with Kabataan party-list Rep. Sarah Elago, however, the athlete is not yet responding to the offer.

SEA Games gold medalist Carlos Yulo received tremendous amount of criticisms on social media platform Twitter after he revealed to one of his fans that he supports President Rodrigo Duterte.

On December 28, Yulo received a question from his follower @mrglKoryn asking the popular gymnast if he supports the President.

Yulo made a positive answer which raised the eyebrows of some Twitter users.

“Yaaas!” Yulo said in his now-deleted tweet.

Here are some of the comments from the netizens who criticized Yulo:

“Reminder lang kay Caloy Yulo, EJ Obiena at Hidilyn Diaz… lahat nang nag ? sa mga photo ops, na olats sa mga susunod na games nila. Pakwento kayo sa Gilas at Pacifictown-Army.” netizen @nico_quejano said.

“Bye Caloy Yulo, I’mma have to unstan too.” @tenicalfaul twitted.

After deleting his tweet, Yulo made another post saying that netizens are free to unfollow him on Twitter.

He also said that he’s not aware of what’s happening in the country.

“U guys can unfollow me anytime hahaha di ko alam kung anong nangyayare dito sa pinas so sorry kung madissapoint kayo,” Yulo said.

U guys can unfollow me anytime hahaha ? di ko alam kung anong nangyayare dito sa pinas so sorry kung madissapoint kayo ?

— Carlos Edriel Yulo (@c_edrielzxs) December 28, 2019

Some netizens who saw said tweet of Yulo said that the athlete may only lack knowledge of what’s really happening in the country that’s why they encouraged the athlete to talk with them.

Twitter user @savelumadschool asked Yulo for a discussion so they could educate the athlete about the bad deeds of the Duterte administration.

“Hello! Good day Caloy! We are a network of advocates for the education of the indigenous youth in Mindanao. We are very willing to discuss with the issues we are currently facing. If you have spare time, just contact us. Lumad children want to learn gymnastics too!” @savelumadschool told Yulo.

“For a brief intro, indigenous peoples schools (built by the IPs themselves) in Mindanao are being closed down by the Duterte administration through different means. This is because large companies want to grab ancestral lands of IPs,” they added.

For a brief intro, indigenous peoples schools (built by the IPs themselves) in Mindanao are being closed down by the Duterte administration through different means.

This is because large companies want to grab ancestral lands of IPs.https://t.co/XQBqX57Bc8

— Save Our Schools Network (@savelumadschool) December 28, 2019

Another netizen even invited Yulo to discuss the issue in the Philippines with activist group Kabataan and Rep. Sarah Elago.

“Hi. we know you’re busy training, pero mas mabuti nang aware sa nangyayari sa bansa, after all damay damay pati sports dito e.g. yung issues SEA Games at yung funding sa mga atleta. Tara discussion w @KabataanPL and rep @sarahelago ? hehe,” netizen @victoryliner wrote.

Hi. we know you're busy training, pero mas mabuti nang aware sa nangyayari sa bansa, after all damay damay pati sports dito e.g. yung issues SEA Games at yung funding sa mga atleta. Tara discussion w @KabataanPL and rep @sarahelago? hehe

— scorbunny stan account (@victoryliner) December 28, 2019

As a response to the offer he received, Yulo said that he’s thankful for the people who wanted him to see the real situation of the country.

At 19 alam ko pong marami pa kong mga kailangan matutunan bilang tao at bilang mabuting Pilipino. Maraming salamat po sa mga taong gusto akong imulat at ieducate sa estado ng Bansa. Everyday is a chance to learn. ?? https://t.co/xVZvfP8uhg

— Carlos Edriel Yulo (@c_edrielzxs) December 28, 2019

“At 19 alam ko pong marami pa kong mga kailangan matutunan bilang tao at bilang mabuting Pilipino. Maraming salamat po sa mga taong gusto akong imulat at ieducate sa estado ng Bansa. Everyday is a chance to learn,” Yulo said.