A lawmaker who voted to terminate ABS-CBN’s franchise suddenly refuted the accusation that he plans to “take over” ABS-CBN’s properties and resources, days after a live stream of his meeting with other lawmakers went viral online.
Representative Rodante Marcoleta, said that his Zoom meeting with Mike Defensor and Jesus Crispin Remulla only discussed the next measures and penalties that will be implemented following the rejection of the franchise offer by the broadcast giant.
On his Facebook Page, the lawmaker said that ABS-CBN is so good at making fake news and clarified that they never planned to take over ABS-CBN’s property.
“Sadyang mahusay gumawa ng fake news ang kalaban natin. Leaked private conversation daw ito samantalang naka live streaming ang Zoom session na ito sa publiko. Mr. Sevilla, hindi ho namin pinagpaplanuhan na kunin ang lupa na kinatitirikan ng ABS-CBN.”
https://www.facebook.com/Cong.RodanteMarcoleta/posts/127959645638418
This Facebook post was a reply to Miguel Sevilla who posted about the Zoom meeting. Sevilla replied to the lawmaker to clarify that he never said it was a leaked private conversation. He even challenged Marcoleta to research if he did.
“Nowhere did I say it was leaked. Do a quick word search if I mentioned that word until now. I even linked the official video from @MikeDefensor’s Facebook page. Try harder, next time. #KatolLabanSaLamok”
Nowhere did I say it was leaked.
Do a quick word search if I mentioned that word until now. I even linked the official video from @MikeDefensor’s Facebook page.
Try harder, next time.#KatolLabanSaLamok pic.twitter.com/Zaecvw4itY
— Miguel Sevilla (@miguel_sevilla) July 21, 2020
A section of the video featuring Mike Defensor, Rodante Marcoleta, and Crispin Remulla, the three strongest critics of the network, gained significant attention after they were heard openly debating how ABS-CBN could be fined as high as 1.9 trillion for suspected violations of the roll-out of its digital boxes and how the network could even be removed from its headquarters in Quezon City.
Marcoleta, the one who suggested the hefty penalty, can be heard saying, “Iyong titulo, unahin natin. In principle ‘yung lupa, wala silang mabubuhat doon. Lahat ng improvements, pag-aari na ng gobyerno kasi ang lupa pag-aari na ng gobyerno.”
Despite his denial that they were not going after ABS-CBN’s real estate property, he could be clearly heard laying out the plans on how to do so in the video.
According to Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, the proposal of his colleagues is “unconstitutional.”
“That’s against the rules, against the law. Unconstitutional ‘yan dahil sinasabi sa Constitution na bigyan ng due process. If you’re in fact deprived of life, liberty, and property, dapat dadaan ‘yun sa proseso na ayon sa ating batas,” Zarate said.
