Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza accused some of his colleagues of failing to listen to “duly authorized” government agencies that had already cleared ABS-CBN of any constitutional violations.
This may be the reason Atienza branded three house hearings as a ‘fishing expedition’. Speaking with reporters in an online media forum, Atienza said he believes that they’re wasting time going in circles.
“I’m saying we keep on going on a fishing expedition. They have not proven anything at this point. You are now—to me—wasting precious time of the people, Congress in particular if we keep on going around in circles and we do not conclude this particular set of hearings,” Atienza said.
Atienza even claimed that this may be the longest case in the history of Congress since franchise renewal inquiries usually take only three to four hearings before it reaches the plenary.
“On history palagay ko…ito ang pinakamahabang hearing, yung iba nga isang hearing pero ito walo na, wala pa kong nakikitang end in sight. Baka abutin pa to ng Agosto, kawawa naman yung mga empleyado, lalong magugutom yung mga kababayan natin.
“After seven hearings, wala pa po silang napapatunayan. Humihingi sila ng records, meaning they are on a fishing expedition.”
Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla attempted to restrain Atienza for saying that the Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was just going back and forth on issues already resolved. Atienza clapped back saying that 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,”
To push the hearings forward, Atienza said Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano could urge the majority of lawmakers in the lower house to vote on the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise.
“Now that we have taken up seven hearings, tomorrow we’ll take up the eight hearing…pwede nang magbotohan ‘to and na kay Speaker Cayetano ‘yan. He cannot pass the ball to anyone, you are holding the ball Speaker shoot it now, whether it comes in or not. At least, ginawa mo yung tungkulin mo.”
