Sagip Partylist Representative Rodante Marcoleta blasted ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo over the latter’s report on Marcoleta’s flip-flopping stand on ABS-CBN issues.
During the Monday, June 8 hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise, after lengthily questioning Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez on his citizenship and allegiance, he then brought the issue of ABS-CBN reporters’ journalistic values.
Marcoleta slammed Kapamilya reporter Atty. Mike Navallo and his TV Patrol report on Marcoleta’s authored bills giving a franchise to several broadcasting companies which also reached more than 50 years in operation, the very same thing Maroleta said was a violation with the ABS-CBN franchise.
The Sagip Partylist congressman alleged that he never authored the said bills saying he’s representing the urban poor which has no interest in broadcasting firms. He also called out Navallo for not getting his side to explain the issues in his report.
Navallo, meanwhile in a subsequent report on TV Patrol maintained that his report is based on legislative records which are public records and can be easily verified by anyone on the House of Representative’s website.
He also addressed Marcoleta’s allegation that he didn’t get his side on the issue saying he called the office of the congressman for an interview. However, Marcoleta wanted Navallo to organize a presscon for him together with reporters from different networks.
But Navallo said that he was advised by his ABS-CBN bosses that he cannot initiate a presscon for any politician because it is unethical. He just asked the congressman’s office to send invitations to other reporters which Marcoleta’s office failed to do.
Meanwhile, Fact-check PH also disputed Marcoleta’s claims that he did not author the bills reported by Navallo.
In their tweet, Fact-check PH posted a screenshot of the bills principally authored by Marcoleta which includes GMA Network’s franchise.
FALSE. Our team retrieved the list of PRINCIPAL AUTHORS of then HB 04631 (now RA 10925), GMA 7's latest franchise renewal in the 17th Congress showing in fine print—MARCOLETA, RODANTE D. https://t.co/C9yxjB244Y pic.twitter.com/K0xhFMI7eO
— Fact-check PH (@factcheckPH_AE) June 8, 2020
Marcoleta, on his opposition to ABS-CBN’s franchise, said that the constitution limits a broadcast franchise to only 50 years. However, looking at the public information about House of Representative bills, Marcoleta was listed as one of the authors of the franchise bills of GMA Network, CBCP, TV5, and others which all past their 50-year mark in the broadcasting industry.
Marcoleta also opposed ABS-CBN’s sale PDRs to foreign investors which according to Marcoleta violated the constitutional provision on foreign ownership. However, Marcoleta’s authorship of the GMA Network franchise bill which also sells PDRs to foreigners contradicts his own opposition to PDRs.
