Senatorial aspirant Rodante Marcoleta courted backlash for placing a political advertisement on ABS-CBN after pushing for the network's shutdown in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marcoleta's ad aired on ABS-CBN's streaming platform Kapamilya Channel, where it had repositioned itself since the Sagip paty-list congressman and his House colleagues in mid-2020 voted to deny the network's application for a new 25-year-franchise.
The move was deemed ironic by Filipino netizens and was criticized by several present and former workers of the network such as screenwriter Jerry Gracio.
"Akala ko ba may nilabag na batas ang Kapamilya network kaya ipinasara nina Marcoleta. Ba't may pa-ad siya?" Gracio, who is running as a party-list representative, said.
EXPLAINER: How Budots, Ja-Ja-Ja-Jamby Jingled All the Way to Election Victory
While the campaign period for the 2022 national elections has yet to start, all candidates and parties have equal access to media time and space, including television under the Fair Election Act.
For national candidates, they are entitled to 120 minutes of television ads for the entire duration of the campaign period.
MORE ON ABS-CBN:
Filipinos are Watching Less TV Due to ABS-CBN Shutdown, Says Study
ABS-CBN Shutdown: One Year Into 'Long, Dark Silent Night'
On Their Last Working Day, ABS-CBN Employees Star in Own Station ID
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