ABS-CBN Official Statement on COMELEC and PPCRV Position on the Use of Talents

In response to COMELEC and PPCRV
election ruling on celebrities endorsing
candidates, ABS-CBN released an official
statement this afternoon pointing out a
loophole in this law. According to the
Kapamilya network, talents are not
employees of the ABS-CBN, hence the
ruling “does not apply to
them.”



Here’s the Kapamilya
network’s statement in full:

“The call for ABS-CBN talents who
endorse candidates to go on leave during
the campaign period is not required by
the Fair Election Act or its
implementing rules and regulations.
Section 36 of Comelec Resolution No.
8758 in relation to Section 1 (4)
thereof and the Fair Election Act merely
requires that media practitioners such
as talents ’shall not use his/her
time or space to favor any
candidate.’ In this regard, it is
ABS-CBN’s policy that its talents
may not use any program to endorse or
promote any candidate. This policy is
strictly enforced by the network."

“The provision of law cited by the
PPCRV [Parish Pastoral Council for
Responsible Voting] and Comelec that
requires media personalities to either
resign or go on leave applies to
employees only. Talents are not
employees of the network and, therefore,
the said provision does not apply to
them.”