Boy Abunda: ‘Dahil ba sa trabaho ko [ay] mawawalan ako ng constitutional right to freedom of expression?’

Here is part of the transcript of a phone interview with Backroom Inc. owner and manager Boy Abunda on Feb. 11 right after ABS-CBN issued a statement on the Fair Election Act that restricts celebrities from endorsing candidates in the coming polls, warning of punishment for violators.

ABS-CBN’s statement read: “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.

"[But] the provision of law cited by the PPCRV 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. "

Boy said: “I speak on behalf of my talents: We will abide by the law.

“Pero ano ba ang batas? ABS-CBN says it doesn’t apply to the talents. And even before this discussion, we go back to the ethical rule of ABS-CBN na di kami pwedeng mangampanya o mag-suggest kung sino ang iboboto during our shows---which we have been doing even in past elections.

“I also abide by the directive of ABS-CBN which is based on the Fair Election Act. Di naman kami required to take a leave of absence but we abstain from even suggesting to people kung sino ang iboboto.

“Sabi ng ABS-CBN, it only applies to its employees---at hindi kami employees kundi talents, so hindi kami covered. Ang personal position ko, I will abide by the law now that my network has defined it for me.

“May mga ibang debate tungkol sa Comelec directive na ito. It is said that the directive is to provide all candidates a leveled playing field. And what I’ll say next [ay] mga thoughts ko lang , at ni di ko kine-question ang law. Like I said, I will follow it.

“Ang tanong ko: Dahil ba sa trabaho ko [ay] mawawalan ako ng constitutional right to freedom of expression? Ibig sabihin ba, pag sinabi ko ang choices ko ng mayor, vice governor, or president ay mawawalan ako ng trabaho---kahit na when I express my choices, I follow the rule?

“Kung susundan ko yung panukala o direktiba…saan ngayon ilulugar ang karapatan ko bilang isang mamamayan? Paano naman ang aking constitutional rights?

“Pangalawang point of consideration, di ba ang sinasabi naman nila, and they have been talking about this, wala namang epekto ang boses ng mga artista [sa electorate]? Na kahit [pa] nga artista [mismo] ang tumakbo [sa eleksyon] ay di naman guaranteed ang pagkapanalo? So this directive…is this a testament, an affirmation of the power of celebrities to influence people?

“I think in-acknowledge nito ang power---pero selectively. Kasi kung titingnan mo historically, hindi naman lahat ng ineendorso ng artista ay pinaniniwalaan.

“[So, in that light], iniinsulto ba [ng direktibang ito ang talino] ng mga mamamayan? Is it trivializing or demeaning ang isang electorate na marunong naman pumili [for themselves] kahit na ano pa ang sabihin ng sinumang artista?”