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Sharon Cuneta 'hopes' Duterte will 'reconsider decision' over ABS-CBN franchise

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Megastar Sharon Cuneta urged President Rodrigo Duterte to &quot;reconsider his decision&quot; about ABS-CBN Corporation&#x27;s franchise renewal, saying a lot of employees will lose &quot;almost everything&quot; should the Philippines&#x27; largest media network be forced to close.Cuneta, who described herself as a &quot;fan&quot; of the President, gave the statement during a January 8, 2020 press conference held shortly after she signed a new contract with ABS-CBN.&quot;I hope he reconsiders his decision about ABS-CBN not just because I just renewed [my contract]. I can always find a job,&quot; she said, referring to Duterte&#x27;s <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/08/18/duterte-to-object-to-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal">earlier pronouncements</a> against renewing ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise set to expire in March.&quot;Everybody I grew up with here - who have remained loyal to the station and have grown up here having learned from the school of hard knocks here have become family and good friends - will lose almost everything they’ve built over the years,&quot; she said.&quot;I hope in my heart that our dear President reconsiders the thousands and thousands of employees who have grown up here, learned the ropes here, and that includes me,&quot; she said.In 2018, Duterte expressed fondness for Cuneta, saying he was thankful to the Megastar for granting Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio&#x27;s birthday wish back when the President&#x27;s eldest daughter was still in elementary school.&quot;Si Inday (Sara), when she was [in] Grade 6, Grade 5, sabi ko: &#x27;Anak, anong gusto mong birthday gift?&#x27; Sabi niya, &#x27;Gusto ko magkasama kami ni Sharon Cuneta,&#x27;&quot; Duterte said. <ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/21/18/look-duterte-sharon-cuneta-dine-in-malacaang">LOOK: Duterte, Sharon Cuneta dine in Malacañang</a></li></ul>Duterte-Carpio, a self-confessed &quot;Sharonian,&quot; reaffirmed her admiration for Cuneta by hosting a welcome dinner for the Megastar a day before her concert in Davao City.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/02/18/look-sara-duterte-dines-with-sharon-cuneta">LOOK: Sara Duterte dines with Sharon Cuneta</a></li></ul>Cuneta is married to opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan, a staunch critic of Duterte.Last month, the President- in a public speech - alleged that the veteran singer wanted to kick her senator-husband out of the house due to a marital spat.Cuneta denied the rumor and clarified that &quot;all is fine&quot; in her marriage and family.&quot;Tatay (Duterte) likes to joke sometimes, as you all know, because Kiko’s in the Opposition. He has joked a few times against Kiko and about me in the past!&quot; Cuneta earlier said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/02/19/sharon-responds-to-dutertes-claim-she-wants-kiko-out-of-their-home">Sharon responds to Duterte’s claim she wants Kiko out of their home</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/10/20/duterte-ally-intl-human-rights-org-back-calls-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal">Duterte ally, int&#x27;l human rights org back calls for ABS-CBN franchise renewal</a></li></ul>

Megastar Sharon Cuneta urged President Rodrigo Duterte to "reconsider his decision" about ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, saying a lot of employees will lose "almost everything" should the Philippines' largest media network be forced to close.

Megastar Sharon Cuneta urged President Rodrigo Duterte to "reconsider his decision" about ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, saying a lot of employees will lose "almost everything" should the Philippines' largest media network be forced to close.