Quezon City mayoral candidate Rep. Mike Defensor has [once again] defended his stance on the ABS-CBN franchise.
In his most recent statement, Defensor, who’s running under the UniTeam of Marcos Jr’ and Sara Duterte-Carpio for Quezon City mayor has issued a statement again on his involvement in the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise.
He believed that the ABS-CBN issue plays a big role in his campaign in Quezon City, thus he wanted to clear things up.
Quezon City mayoral candidate Mike Defensor points out the issue on ABS-CBN franchise was never personal and just a matter of his duty.#MBHotSeat #MBHotSeatDefensor#MatalinongBoto2022 pic.twitter.com/LKQDe7Wa8f
— Manila Bulletin News (@manilabulletin) March 11, 2022
“Alam niyo itong ABS-CBN has been a continuing factor in this campaign.”
According to him, his decision to reject the franchise renewal application of the Kapamilya network was based purely on what the law and constitution say.
“Gusto ko lang linawin that when I decided on the ABS-CBN issue and I was very active in the hearings, it was born out of my duty as congressmen, and because ‘yan ay applications for a franchise and on the base of that may conditions yan.
“May mga governing laws and the constitution governs ‘yung aming desisyon. ‘Yung naging concern na pinag-usapan are the workers. ‘Yung mga natanggal na trabahador, nabayaran sila. Nanalo sila sa Supreme Court.”
He also added that his vote to reject that franchise was a matter of duty and nothing personal.
“It was just a matter of duty, it was never personal.”
Defensor is one of the staunchest opposition of the ABS-CBN franchise renewal in Congress together with Rodante Marcoleta and Boying Remulla.
They threw different issues against ABS-CBN which allegedly violated the constitutional provisions of its franchise.
However, after several exhaustive hearings, they weren’t able to prove compelling proofs against the network.
All of their resource persons from different government agencies testified that the Kapamilya network did not violate any of those alleged against them.
“ABS-CBN is fully compliant with labor laws. Hindi sya nakitaan ng anumang violations.” said DOLE Usec. Ana Dione.
“ABS-CBN Corporation ay (is) regularly paying taxes for the past years. Na-check naman po na ‘yung dapat nilang i-withhold at na-remit naman nila sa gobyerno (The amount that it needed to withhold had been checked and it was remitted to the government),” said BIR Asst. Commisioner Manuel Mapoy.
“Big Dipper, which is 99% owned by ABS-CBN, is compliant with PEZA’s requirements as to the payment of their taxes represented by the 5% GIE (gross income earned) 3% goes to the BIR, and the record of BIR will attest to this, and 2% goes to the local treasurer of the eco-zone host LGU,” said PEZA Dir. Charito Plaza.
