AnaKalusugan Partylist Cong. Mike Defensor, along with Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, Rep. Jesus Remulla, seemed to have simmered down on their onslaught against ABS-CBN.
Now, the newly elected House minority leader, Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Joseph “Caraps” Stephen Paduano, has taken the helm and pounced on the ABS-CBN-Zoe TV block time deal.
In his briefing as the newly elected House minority leader, he urged the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the National Telecommunications Commission to investigate the block time deal between ABS-CBN and Zoe TV.
“There is a legal issue about it. Tignan na lang natin kung ano ang mangyayari d’yan. Let the NTC do the study or investigation on that matter. Then NTC will recommend it to Congress, to the Committee on Franchise, and the committee will act on it. We also have the responsibility and the right to investigate it,” said Paduano.
Additionally, he also cited debunked issues of tax evasion in his statement.
“Once you’re a commercial TV or network, you have to pay your taxes. ‘Yan ang issue ko doon sa ABS-CBN eh. The profits of ABS-CBN goes to Big Dipper. That’s tax evasion. May issue talaga kapag ganyan. You have to pay your taxes,” said Paduano.
On the other hand, Defensor already confirmed that he has no problem with the ABS-CBN-Zoe TV Block Time deal.
“I have no problem with that. Kasi ito naman magiging block time ang arrangement nila jan, it is not the utilization of the franchise. It is the franchise of Zoe and they are buying into it,” said Rep. Defensor.
