On Friday, August 12, netizens shared their sentiment following SAGIP party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta asking the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to probe the partnership agreement signed by ABS-CBN and TV5.
Recently, ABS-CBN revealed that it now has shares in TV5. This deal makes a comeback on free TV possible after it was booted off the air two years ago.
In an interview with Radyo Pilipinas, Marcoleta was “concerned” about the possible monopolization now that two of the country’s biggest networks have joined forces.
“Ang nakikita ko parang (circumvention) ng batas yung gagawin nila na madaliang joint venture between ABS-CBN and TV5.
“TV5 malaki ‘yan, pagkatapos ABS-CBN, mamo-monopolize ang industry dito. Wala bang say dito ang Philippine Competition Commission? Hindi naman gano’n, kaya nga tayo naglatag ng ganitong agency para tingnan ang lahat ng kapakanan ng mga apektadong sektor. Magiging monopoly ito kung tutuusin mo ‘di ba?” he said.
During the same interview, Marcoleta also urged the NTC to launch a motu proprio probe of ABS-CBN’s violations regarding its franchise, imposing administrative fines if necessary.
“Sa totoo n’yan mayroon akong resolution na di palang nabibigyan ng panahon, kwinenta ko nga ‘yung value ng administrative fine na sa akin talaga ay dapat lamang na singilin. ‘Yun na nga base na rin sa mga napatunayang mga paglabag. Sana ang NTC ay ‘wag naman magpakatahimik sa isyu na ito.”
Meanwhile, netizens are calling him a hypocrite after Marcoleta had a hand in shutting down ABS-CBN in 2020.
He wanted ABS-CBN closed and now he’s worried about a monopoly?
Pabobohan na lang talaga. https://t.co/4KT2yDEHRT
— Czar Lee Puth 👕 (@Stewart___O) August 10, 2022
A netizen even lambasted Marcoleta for being quick to take action regarding ABS-CBN but was mum about corruption.
Bilis ng NTC pag usaping ABS-CBN, pero sa mga scam texts walang ginagawa 🙃
Bilis ni Marcoleta pag usaping ABS-CBN, pero sa mga usaping katiwalian sa Pharmally, PhilHealth, P200B estate tax tahimik 🙃
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) August 11, 2022
Another used a reverse card at the house representative after he took advantage of the law by becoming a party-list representative after dropping out of the senatorial race.
During the election, the SAGIP party list announced that Marcoleta would be one of their representatives. The revelation was done days before he backed out.
The hypocrisy of Marcoleta to quiz the possible merger of ABS-CBN & TV5 dahil mamomonopolya raw ang industry & insinuating na nagagamit ang batas to their advantage when he himself played around election law when he again become Congressman after dropping out from Senate race.🤡
— Ryan (@rryyyaaaannnn) August 10, 2022
A netizen even wondered why Marcoleta was obviously furious with ABS-CBN possibly returning on free TV, warning him that he could possibly die out of resentment.
Marcoleta jusko baka mauna ka pang mawala kaysa sa abs. Bakit galit na galit ka? https://t.co/J6AD29Tg6N
— RA Joyce (@PerezJmbv) August 11, 2022
For some, Marcoleta plans to take the network for himself, but the partnership prevents him from doing so, which, according to the netizen, frustrates the SAGIP representative.
Masyadong pakialamero itong marcoleta na ito. Gusto yata SA KANYA mapunta Ang abs cbn. Yun lang an nakikita Kong dahilan para pangigilan Ang nasabing istasyon. Imbestigahan nga ninyo Ang SALN Ng taong Yan at Ang lifestyle nia. Katanda na naghahangad pa Ng sobra sa Buhay. https://t.co/fHfU5BWgI9
— MARIA MALABANAN. (@NANAY_YENG) August 11, 2022
A netizen pointed out that the Kapamilya Network is merely an “investor and content provider.” If the NTC decides to investigate ABS-CBN again, it will go out of its jurisdiction.
https://twitter.com/kenxken/status/1557580851939946497
A netizen sarcastically said that by 2044, during the franchise expiration of TV5, Marcoleta would already have “expired.”
2044 pa ang franchise expiry date ng TV5 so patay na si Marcobeta that time.😂
— AltGMA🌈 (@KafosoMo) August 12, 2022
The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) was also called to act after Marcoleta was dissatisfied with the department’s “inaction” on the alleged tax of the network.
[The BIR said,] ‘We will look into this allegation.’ Eh wala naman kaming nakita eh,” Marcoleta ranted. “Sana huwag na tayo mapunta sa gano’n [na ipapatawag]. Ngayon pa lang sana tignan natin.”
