Vilma Santos ready to face consequences of ABS-CBN franchise vote

House Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto on Monday said she is ready to face the “consequences” of her vote favoring the renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation’s franchise.

Voting 70-11, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Friday voted to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application. Santos-Recto was among the 11 lawmakers who voted "no" the denial.

Despite being part of the “super majority,” Santos-Recto said she is an “independent thinker.”

Interviewed on ANC, she recalled that in 2017, she lost a committee chairmanship after voting against the death penalty, which is favored by the Duterte administration.

“It happened to me already when I voted ‘no’ doon sa death penalty… sinabi nila na kailangan masuportahan ‘yong major bill na ‘yon, ‘yong death penalty and unfortunately, I stood my ground and I voted ‘no.’ So I lost my chairmanship,” she said.

“Pero kung ano man ‘yong naging desisyon ko ngayon dito sa renewal ng franchise ng ABS-CBN at magkakaroon ulit ng mga ganoong consequences, I think I’m prepared for that. Ganoon talaga, so tanggapin natin,” Santos-Recto added.

Santos-Recto, an actress-turned politician and wife of Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, also said she sees no conflict of interest over her vote since she and her son, actor and host Luis Manzano, are not stockholders of ABS-CBN and she has no existing contract with the network. --Ma. Angelica Garcia/KBK, GMA News