Sagip Buhay Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta is keen on opposing new efforts to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
In an interview with SMNI’s Mike Abe, Marcoleta insisted on settling first ABS-CBN’s issues before a new franchise renewal bill should be discussed.
“Kung hindi nila kikilalanin yun at wala silang gagawin, magpapatay malisya lang na walang parang nangyari anong gagawin ng isang bagong bill para bigyan sila ng prangkisa. Nagbibiruan lang ba tayo rito, nagkukunwari lang ba tayo dito sa congress,” he said.
Marcoleta who is one of those main oppositors of the Kapamilya network’s franchise application brought up again his issue with the network’s land title which according to him should be scrutinized because he has knowledge that ABS-CBN does not own the land where its broadcast compound is located.
“Oh eh bakit ka magsisimula ulit ng prangkisa eh hindi mo pa nga alam kung ikaw ang may-ari ng title na yan.
“Ang unang itatanong ko sa mga kasamahan kong magtatangka or kung meron man talagang nagfile na nang bill para bigyan sila ng bagong prangkisa, eto tanong ko anong gagawin ninyo sa dalawang resolution na…hindi pa nadidinig tungkol sa ABS-CBN. Anong gagawin ninyo sa questionable title na inihain ko bilang resolution na hindi pa nadinig,” Marcoleta persisted.
He also mentioned ABS-CBN’s penalty with the NTC due to their violation on the issue of TV Plus.
“Yung ikalawang resolution ko yung tungkol sa paglabag at ang mga ebidensyang inihain ko dun na dapat silang magbayad ng ganung kalaking halaga sa mga paglabag hindi pa rin naaadgenda. Hindi ba dapat ito muna ang unahin natin bago natin pagisipan man lang o bago tayo managinip na bigyan natin ng bagong prangkisa ang ABS-CBN,” Marcoleta continued.
Fresh moves for the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise came after Senate President Tito Sotto filed a senate bill on January 4 seeking to give the network a fresh 25-year franchise.
According to Sotto, ABS-CBN remains to be the top choice of viewers in terms of news and entertainment.
“ABS-CBN is still the top choice of viewers in the Philippines as its viewers nationwide prefer to catch relevant news and inspiring TV series on ABS-CBN as the network registered an average audience share of 45%or 14 points higher than GMA’s 31%,” said Sotto in the bill.
“ABS-CBN’s wide reach to Filipinos, alongside the undeniable advantages of broadcast media relative to mass communication, definitely calls for the immediate renewal of the network’s franchise,” Sotto continued.
