Ces Drilon among first laid off after ABS-CBN shutdown

Ces Drilon, a veteran broadcast journalist and ANCX executive editor announced on social media that she was among the laid-off ABS-CBN employees after the Congress denied the network’s franchise renewal.

“This was one of the toughest days I had to face. Telling fellow Kapamilyas that they would lose their jobs by the end of August,” Drilon said in a Tweet.

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“I lost mine too,” the former Bandila anchor said.

Drilon has been working with ABS-CBN since 1989. She served as a co-anchor in news programs The World Tonight and TV Patrol.

“Babangon din ang mga Kapamilya. This may be our darkest hour. But don’t lose hope,” she said in another post.

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Fellow ASB-CBN broadcaster Karen Davila said she was hurt about what happened to her Ces Drilon.

“This is heartbreaking. It’s been an honor to be alongside you in Bandila. You are an ABS-CBN news icon and inspiration. I am preparing my heart as well for the worst and will stand by ABS-CBN til the end,” Davila wrote.

Also read: Defensor to ABS-CBN: Use your P3.2B ‘evaded’ tax to help employees

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Meanwhile, DJ Chacha or Czarina Balba, in real-life, announced in an interview with DZMM that ABS-CBN radio station MOR 101.9 would also stop its operations.

“Sinabi na sa amin na expect the worst talaga. Pwedeng retrenchment, pwedeng stop operations ‘yung ibang department ng ABS-CBN,” Balba said.

(We have been told to expect the worst. Retrenchment or other ABS-CBN departments may stop operations.)

“Kami po ay under ng ABS-CBN, kami ang FM station dito sa Maynila pero hindi lang kami, marami pong MOR sa buong Pilipinas. Hindi lang sa Maynila ang mga mawawalan ng trabaho. So kagabi sinabi ng mga boss namin na hanggang August 31 next month na lang ang MOR,” she added.

(We are under ABS-CBN, we are their FM station here in Manila, but there are MOR stations all over the Philippines. Employees working outside Manila will lose their jobs too. Last night, our bosses told us that MOR would only operate until August 31.)

ABS-CBN announced Wednesday that it is laying off employees effective August 31 after their franchise renewal application was rejected by House committee on legislative franchises.