Quezon City Rep. and actor Alfred Vargas’ decision to inhibit himself from voting on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN seems to have done him more harm than good.

Citing “conflict of interest” and “propriety,” Vargas issued an official statement yesterday, July 10.

“My heart goes to ABS-CBN, its employees, and other workers whose livelihood depends on the network. This representation as an actor/producer has been engaged for artistic projects with the network,” he said.

“Thus, out of propriety and as dictated by law, I am duty-bound to inhibit myself from voting on the application for the franchise of ABS-CBN.”

On Twitter, one @nottherealgreta raised the issue and tweeted, “Wag kang plastic Alfred Vargas (Don’t be plastic Alfred Vargas). We will not forget. QC People, remember this day.”

What followed was a series of comments against Vargas.

@mhygawdness believes that Vargas “failed us. We will fail u too & the rest of the congressmen who voted NO. Remember that. #NoToABSCBNFranchiseDenial #IbalikAngABSCBN.”

A certain @sheconurz bluntly told the Congressman: “No need to explain na Alfred Vargas!!! Tapos na (It’s done)!”

With his action, @Maureen52432628 believes that Vargas shredded his true color, saying, “Naipakita niya ang tunay niyang anyo. Ipokrito ka (You’ve shown your true color. You’re a hypocrite).”

For @AlaizaAgaton1, Vargas’ action was “playing safe.” She admitted that “sobrang nasaktan talaga ako sa desisyon nila Expressionless face nawalan na nga ng trabaho pati pa to dumagdag (I was hurt with their decision. They have expressionless face. Many have already lost their jobs and this one is an additional suffering.)

One @MC_Erialc commented, “Alfred vargas doesn’t mean what he said that his heart goes to ABS CBN. He should have done something more appropriate!”

@iambotbatibot thinks Vargas should not have turned his back on his fellow artists, saying, “Not bec u can easily get some shows at GMA u turned ur back 2 ur fellow artists, as well as those employees residing at QC, at this pandemic u opted 2b deaf on the public outcry along with d other 69 reps..was it bec u r afraid of not bein given pork barrel funds?!”

@edz67509008 will forever remember the day as she declared, “I’m from QC tatandaan ko ang araw na to! Sana iniisip mo man lang @AlfredVargas ang kapakanan ng mga manggagawa…artista ka rin.”

(I’m from QC, I will remember this day!  You should have thought @AlfredVargas the welfare of your co-workers. You’re also an artist.)

In an Instagram post today, July 11, Vargas’ talent manager, Lolit Solis, defended the actor-politician for his stand.

“I salute Alfred Vargas. Dahil sa conflict of interest nag inhibit siya sa pagboto sa Yes/No sa renewal ng franchise ng ABS CBN. Dahil isa siyang artista na binigyan ng career ng istasyon, ang buong puso niya ay nasa kapakanan ng Chanel 2, pero dahil isa siyang Congressman na representative ng mga tao sa distrito niya, nakita din niya ang mga puntos na nasilip ng 70 bomoto sa Yes,” Solis stated.

(I salute Alfred Vargas. Because of conflict of interest, he inhibited himself from voting yes/no in ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. Because he was once an artist of the network, his heart is for the welfare of Channel 2, but because  he is representing his constituents at his district, he also saw the points of the 70 who voted for yes.)

“Naglaban ang puso at utak ni Cong Alfred Vargas, matagal niyang ipinagdasal ang guidance para sa tamang desisyon, in the end he decided na maging neutral, gumitna, walang panigan, let destiny take its course. Sa dulo nito, malalaman din natin ang tama o mali, sa una magiging emotional tayo, pero sa huli , iyon tama parin ang mananaig. I salute you Alfred Vargas, you stick to your stand, hindi ka na pressure ng kahit ano at ng kung sino. #classiclolita #takeitperminutemeganun,” she added.

(Cong Alfred Vargas’ heart and mind wrestled. He prayed long for guidance in arriving at the right decision, [and] in the end he decided to be neutral, to stay in the middle, not to take sides and let destiny take its course. In the end, we will realize what’s right and wrong, at first we will become emotional, but in the end the right thing will prevail. I salute you Alfred Vargas, you stick to your stand, you didn’t let anything and anyone pressure you.)

Still, some of Solis’ IG followers lambasted Vargas.

“Playing safe siya bakit si vilma santos ang magpinsan na maceda at devenencia mga apo sila ng may ari ng sampaguita pictures nanindigan,” @dolly1539 commented.

(He’s playing safe.  Why did Vilma Santos, cousins Maceda and devenecia, they’re the grandchildren of Sampaguita Pictures’ owner and yet they took a stand.)

@Ayiesha14 believes Vargas was just “playing safe, walang desisyon (bereft of decision)… Di yan dapat sa position nya (That should not be in his position).”

“Playing safe is the worst than showing your real beliefs. I hope this will be his last term also!” jmchelle.cruz commented. /ra

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