House Leader denies hearings on ABS-CBN franchise renewal are biased ABS-CBN’s New Franchise

In an interview with INQUIRER.net, 1^st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado denied that the ABS-CBN franchise hearings are biased.

“Hindi natin dapat sabihin na biased ‘yung hearing na ito. Lahat ng nagsabi niyan siguro nakalimutang manuod thoroughly ng hearing natin, ‘yan clearly ay fake news.”

Sy-Alvarado chairs the committee that handles hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal along with House committee on legislative franchises chair Palawan District Rep. Franz Alvarez.

“Kinakausap natin ang anti kung sila ba ay may nararamdamang hindi patas na pagturing ng mga chairman. Kinakausap din natin madalas ang mga taga-pro kasama na ang ABS-CBN kung sila ba ay may dinadamdam na hindi patas ang hearing na ito,” Sy-Alvarado said

Sy-Alvarado also added, “Sa akin namang pakiwari ay lahat naman ay masaya pwera lang sa iilan na nagpahayag ng kanilang pagkadismaya.”

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza had previously lashed out that those against granting ABS-CBN a franchise were monopolizing the proceedings.

He also accused Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta as  “enjoying obviously immense advantage” in the hearings since he is not being interrupted with his interpellations. In a virtual press conference, Deputy Minority Leader Bayan Muna Party-List Rep. Carlos Zarate said he understood Rep. Atienza’s sentiments and afterwards called out the “presiding officers” of the hearings for being biased.

“Hindi masyadong nabibigyan ng proper control yung discussion sa mga presiding [officers] especially yung mga napre-preside din have their own bias(es) also,” said Zarate, one of the 14 congressmen who filed bills seeking to renew the network’s expired franchise.

It was Alvarez who responded to Atienza during a hearing and said he “took exception” to the latter’s claim that the proceedings have been one-sided

Sy-Alvarado claimed that there are more pro-ABS-CBN lawmakers that those who against the network’s franchise.

“Hindi natin masasabi na one-sided and hearing na ito. Sabi ko nga po, kung binigyan ko ng 30 minuto ang anti-ABS, bibigyan ko rin ng 30 minuto ang pro. Kung mayrong hindi gumamit ng isang minuto at nasayang pa, pinapabayaan ko na gamitin ng iba sa mga kasama nila sa pagtatanong ‘yung isa o kahit kalahating minuto na natitira,” Sy-Alvarado said.

“Wala na kayong mahahanap na mas fair, mas patas, at mas komprehensibong hearing kesa sa binigay nating hearing,” Sy-Alvarado claimed.

“Sana ay kilabutan naman yung mga taong nagsasabi na hindi tayo patas, fake news po yan at iyan ay isang kalapastanganan sa lahat ng bumubuo ng joint committee na ito lalong lalo na sa ating Speaker.”

However, netizens didn’t agree with Alvarado.