On Wednesday, BUHAY Party-list Representative Lito Atienza requested House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano to cease the House’s intention of conducting another congressional probe against ABS-CBN and the Lopezes.
In a Facebook Live video, Atienza said that the image of congress could be stained if they will continue the investigation against the network.
“Mr. Speaker, that is another request that I am making. Don’t allow the further investigation of the alleged Lopez evil deeds. ‘Di po maganda ‘yan,” Atienza said.
“Para talagang gusto niyo lang mamersonal, and it will not be understood by everyone. In fact, (they) will misunderstand your intention, no matter how good your intentions maybe,” he said.
“Lalabas kayong negatibo, malupit, at ‘di niyo ginagalang ang kalagayan ninuman,” he added.
[You will come out negatively, violent and disrespectful]
Congress seeks to investigate other alleged violations of the network like; their block time agreement with AMCARA broadcasting network, the condoned loans of the Lopezes, and the questionable ownership of their property on Mother Ignacia in Quezon City.
Atienza, a supporter of ABS-CBN, sees this move as an intention to let ABS-CBN go through more suffering. He suggested discussing these things after finalizing the issue with the network’s franchise.
“Mali ang timing ngayon niyan – ungkatin mo mga usaping ‘yan dahil nakadapa na mga tao,” he said.
“Para sa akin, bago natin talakayin ‘yang mga issue na inyong inuungkat ngayon,’ yung property, ABS compound, ‘yung Amcara, ‘yung mga ibang alleged violations committed by the Lopezes, take up-in natin ‘yan after we dispose with finality the issue of the franchise,” he added.
Atienza also said that they must focus on how they can help the employees of ABS-CBN who lost their jobs after the shutdown.
“May ugali tayong Pilipino (na) ‘pag yung kalaban mo nakadapa na, ‘wag mo sisipain. ‘Pag sinipa mo ‘yan, the whole world will condemn you. Walang kwenta kang tao, ‘di ka Pilipino,” Atienza said.
“Kailangan ngayon, kung gusto niyo magkaisa tayo, gawin natin ang tama. Plenary discussion for the issue of the franchise deserved by the ABS-CBN people, para ‘yung nawalan ng trabaho, magkakaroon ng pag-asa. Dahil kung hindi, lalabas napakalupit ninyo. ‘Di kayo patatawarin ng kasaysayan at ng mamamayan. ‘Di natutulog ang Diyos,” he added.
Following a cease-and-desist order from National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), ABS-CBN stopped broadcast since May 5. After a series of congressional hearings, ABS-CBN was cleared by the relevant government agencies of all the alleged violations thrown against them. Despite this, on July 10, with a vote of 70-11, Congress terminated the ABS-CBN network franchise application by rejecting their appeal for franchise renewal.
With the non-renewal of their franchise, ABS-CBN announced the beginning of its retrenchment program by the end of August. About 90% of the company’s employees are expected to lose their jobs by that time.
