Newly elected minority house leader Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Joseph “Caraps” Stephen Paduano, urged the National Telecommunication Commission and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to probe the ABS-CBN and Zoe TV block time deal.
Firstly, Paduano cited legal issues with the deal during their virtual briefing urging NTC to conduct an investigation.
“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.
He then turned to the already debunked allegations of tax evasion with the ABS-CBN subsidiary, Big Dipper Digital Content and Design Inc., through tax incentives via the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.
“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.
He then urged both the BIR and NTC to check on the ABS-CBN and Zoe TV Block time Deal.
