ORMOC City Mayor Richard Gomez, a former actor, took a swipe at Malacañang as he threw a question on the ABS-CBN shutdown back at a Palace official.
In a Laging Handa briefing aired Thursday, May 7, Presidential Communications Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio asked Gomez if he had any message to his friends and colleagues in ABS-CBN.
“Usec Rocky, baka mas maganda yata na kayo sasagot niyan dahil kayo sa gobyerno nagpahinto sa ‘pag broadcast ng ABS-CBN,” Gomez said.
Nonetheless, he expressed hope that the shutdown is temporary.
“Ang take ko diyan, nakakalungkot din isipin. Hopefully temporary 'yung pagsara sa ABS-CBN dahil napakarami pong taong nagtatrabaho po diyan. Marami akong mga kaibigan na artista na nagtatrabaho sa ABS-CBN,” he said.
“Hopefully matugunan na kahit provisionary lang 'yung ibibigay sa kanila na pag-operate nang sa ganoon ang ABS-CBN ay muling makapag-ere,” he added.
Gomez, as an actor, was part of television series “Palibhasa Lalaki” under the network.
The network ceased broadcast operations after receiving an order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) Tuesday, May 5.
Gomez said most actors work under the “no work, no pay” scheme.
“Alam naman natin na ang artista, kapag hindi nagtatrabaho, wala ring kikitain. Kami, 'yung trabaho namin, per day kami. Although depende sa artista. May malaking artista, may maliit na artista. Pero 'yung manner ng trabaho at sahod namin, parepareho lang, no work, no pay. You work, then you get paid,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)