After the Congress voted 70-11 denying the franchise of ABS-CBN, former ANC news anchor and Baghdad War correspondent Waldy Carbonell’s claim about the ABS-CBN’s franchise has seemingly been proven correct.
In a video which has gone viral on Facebook, journalist Carbonell claimed that he was offered a position for a TV network that will replace ABS-CBN.
“Nais ko pong banggitin ulit na ako po ay kinukuha ng bagong TV station, TV network. Abay nilapitan po ako at nagkita po kame sa Villamor Golf and country club.”
Carbonell said, the killing of ABS-CBN’s franchise was a done deal already months ago and that the government has no plans of renewing it because a new TV network that will replace the media giant is already on its way.
“Nilapitan po ako ng isang dating public relations officer ng Philippine Airlines na ngayon ay sya po’y public relations man nang bagong tatag na network ng mga intsik, na papalit di umano sa ABS-CBN. Eto po’y mga 2 months na nangyayari, ang sinabi sa akin done deal na yang ABS-CBN hindi na irerenew ang prangkisa nyan, yan ay mawawala na at kame ang kapalit.”
“Kako’y sinong grupo yan? Eto’y grupo ng mga taga Hong Kong at ang kanilang pakay ay magtayo ng TV station dito sa Pilipinas. Eh kako hindi pede ang mga dayuhan na mag may-ari ng media. abay sabi, alam mo naman Pilipinas ito pede lahat, lalo’t higit pag ito ay intsik.”
https://www.facebook.com/1271790229639886/videos/605015950140557/
Coincidentally, in March the House of Representatives passed a law allowing foreign ownership of public utilities.
House Bill No. 78, which seeks to amend the Commonwealth Act No. 146 also known as the Public Service Act was passed by a vote of 136 Yes votes with 46 no and 1 abstain.
It was however being questioned because under the 1987 Constitution, ownership, operation, control, and management of public utilities should be given to Filipino citizens or to firms that are at least 60 percent owned by Filipinos.
Meanwhile, Carbonell also revealed that he was offered with 7-digit salary and the only qualification is to be an ally of Malacanang.
“Nangangailangan kame ng editor in chief sa aming news dept. at nakapalaki ng sweldo sasama ka ba?
“Ang sabi ko wala naman kayong prangkisa, sapagkat nandyan pa naman ang ABS-CBN. Ang sabi sa akin, mayron na tayong prangkisa na dati nang standby franchise na walang gumagalaw at eto ay inaward na sa amin ng Malacanang.
“Sabi ko mukhang hindi ko magagawa na sasapi ako sa isang network na papalit sa ABS-CBN.
“Eh ano ang kailangang kwalipikasyon? mga kaibigan makinig po kayo mabuti, ang kwalipikasyon, ang sweldo muna, ang sweldo po ay seven digits…at isa lamang ang iyong magiging kwalipikasyon na kinakailangan sagutin, handa ka ba na kumampi sa malacanang?” Carbonell narrated.
However, at that point, Carbonell turned emotional while saying, “Sabi ko po hindi, sapagkat hindi binebenta ang program.”
