During the House committee hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal on Wednesday, Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza criticized the hearing as a “fishing expedition” and called on House leaders to take better control of the proceeding.
“After seven hearings, wala pa po silang napapatunayan. Humihingi sila ng records, meaning they are on a fishing expedition,” he said
Atienza was later called out by Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla for saying that Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was “browbeating” the network, Atienza clapped back saying Remulla was among those monopolizing the hearings.
“We are a 305-member Congress and this committee represents the Philippine Congress. Sana’y mapagbigay sila. Immediately magre-react siya ng ganiyan, eh nangangahulugan lang na tama po ‘yung aking damdamin na itong hearing natin ay hindi po natin inilalagay sa tamang direksiyon,” he said.
But Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, vice-chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, ruled in favor of Remulla. Coincidentally, Defensor was also one of the Congressmen who kept bringing up already resolved issues of the network.
Atienza thinks that some lawmakers opposing the franchise renewal of the giant network have recycled allegations, which have been addressed by concerned government agencies.
“Ang tanong sa akin sa labas, gano’n lang palagi. ‘Kayo ba ay talagang desidido kayong huwag bigyan ng prangkisa?’ Sabi ko, ‘Bakit gano’n ang impression ninyo?’ ‘Eh napapanood po namin.’ ‘Yung paratang ng isa ay paulit-ulit na hindi binabago bagamat nagsasalita na ang awtoridad.”
He also urged his colleagues ‘to take better control of the proceedings’ as some appeared to have prejudged the matter even though the lower chamber had promised of conducting a fair, impartial, and comprehensive hearing.
“Ang hinihingi ko lang, take better control of the proceedings. This is not a committee of 1 congressman, 2 congressmen or 3 or 4. This is a committee of 305 members of Congress duly elected by the people,” he said.
“Husgahan natin ang ABS-CBN on the basis of their contribution to national development and the protection of the rights of every citizen and public service,” he added.
Since they already heard all the arguments, Atienza asked his colleague to put the matter to a vote in the plenary.
However, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez, who chairs the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, disagreed with Atienza’s remark.
“I beg to disagree. Patas naman po. Lahat may chance magsalita. Kahit hindi miyembro ng committee ay hinahayaan kong magsalita,” he said.
“Doon po sa inyong reklamo na kayo’y laging napapahuli sa listahan, siguro po mas maganda niyan kung meron kayong itatanong, mas maaga po kayong magpalista nang sa ganun malagay po kayo sa medyo taas,” Alvarez added.
Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, also agreed with Alvarez’s statement.
“Ipaalala po natin sa lahat na kung inyo pong nasubaybayan ang ating hearing, pinipilit po talaga nating maging patas ang ating hearing,” he said.
“Sa sobra po nating patas, ang lahat ng sumobrang oras na kinonsumo ng mga nagtatanong ng anti sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN ay ibinigay naman natin sa mga kampi sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN,” Sy-Alvarado added.
Some netizens went on social media as they said that Remulla was being disrespectful during the House hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
Even marcoleta,remulla are educated,they're not given the right to continually disrespect the guests.Apparently,they're taking adv of being seniorities to https://t.co/XxaEgmlBOM fact,they're OLD enough to know what respect means.Not bec u're saying "po,opo" respectful na!
— pecker (@pecker78340577) June 19, 2020
Tuwing ABS na sasagot di pwedeng wala kang marinig na “Mr. Chair! Mr. Chair!” Kairita sila Remulla, Marcoleta at Defensor sa kabastusan!
— SashaBella229 (@sashabella229) June 19, 2020
Cong. Atienza was right. They are asking for evidences that they can use against ABS-CBN. They were the ones accusing ABS-CBN so the burden of proof lies with them.
I have never seen such shameless men like Remulla, Defensor, Barzaga and Marcoleta.
— Rommel Lopez (@RommelFLopez) June 19, 2020
Abolish congress napakabastos ni remulla pigsy and markubeta
— Irene (@Irene74435300) June 19, 2020
The next hearing is scheduled next Tuesday, with ABS-CBN given a deadline until Thursday to submit records on its labor issues.
