MANILA, Philippines — Lolit Solis on Wednesday came to the defense of actor and Quezon City 5th District Representative Alfred Vargas after he chose to inhibit from voting on the franchise bid of ABS-CBN, which was later junked by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises.
“Hindi ko maintindihan iyon bashing na tinatanggap ng mga congressman na involved sa issue ng franchise renewal ng ABS CBN, Salve,” Solis, who serves as Vargas’ manager, said in an Instagram post.
(I don’t understand the bashing that the congressmen involved in the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN receive.)
“Ok, nag-inhibit si cong. Alfred Vargas sa kanyang boto, so what’s wrong?” she said. “Ayaw niya ng YES dahil mahal niya ang showbiz, ayaw niya rin ng NO dahil na bother siya ng ilang issues, so Inhibit siya. What did he betray? ”
(Ok, so Cong. Alfred Vargas inhibited from voting, what’s wrong? He did not want to say yes because he loves showbiz, he also did not want to say no because he’s bothered by some issues, so he inhibited instead. What did he betray?)
“Tinakot ba siya kaya siya walang pinili panigan? May natanggap ba siya o tinanggihan kaya naging undecided sa kanyang sagot? Wala at hindi ang sagot sa lahat ng tanong.”
(Was he threatened that’s why he didn’t take sides? Did he receive or deny something, so he answered he was undecided? No is the answer to all of these questions.)
Just hours before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises members cast their votes on the fate of ABS-CBN, Vargas said he would inhibit from voting, citing “conflict of interest.”
Seventy lawmakers voted to adopt the report of the technical working group, which recommended denying ABS-CBN a new franchise. Eleven solons, meanwhile, voted against the recommendations.
Solis added that Vargas did not even promise anything, so he did not betray anyone.
“Hindi siya naduwag , ayaw lang niyang gawin ang isang bagay na half hearted siya,” she said in Vargas’ defense. “Ayaw niya guluhin siya ng konsensiya niya sa pagpili ng hindi buo ang puso at utak niya.”
(He did not get scared, he just didn’t want to do something that was half-hearted. He did not want to confuse his conscience in choosing something without his mind and heart being full.)
“Sumali man siya sa 11 talo parin, sumali man siya sa 70, dagdag bilang lang,” the manager added.
(Even if he joined the 11 votes, it would still be denied. If he joined the 70, it’s just an additional vote.)
She then said to Vargas’ bashers to just accept the outcome of the vote.
“Tanggapin na natin tapos na ang laban, huwag na natin ipilit pa ang nangyari na hindi na mababago.”
(Let’s just accept that the fight is over. Let us not push something that clearly won’t happen.)