Netizens couldn’t help but laugh at Congressman Jesus Crispin Remulla at the 11th hearing for ABS-CBN Network’s franchise renewal when he translated ‘Big Dipper’ as ‘malaking tabo’ instead of a constellation.
This was when Remulla suspected a tax violation of ABS-CBN and he called for the investigation of the settlement agreements reached between BIR and ABS-CBN.
“Big Dipper, Big Dipper para magandang example lang. Ang Big Dipper ang tawag natin dyan malaking tabo kase sa tagalog big is malaki, dipper is tabo.”
He even said that ABS CBN used Big Dipper to obtain more money. “Eh ang lumalabas tumatabo sila [ABS CBN] ng pera mula dito sa Big Dipper.”
Netizens laughed at how the lawmaker didn’t know what Big Dipper really refers to.
Remulla, Big Dipper refers to the constellation (talampad in Tagalog), known as 'losong' in Bisaya and 'bubu' in Jama Mapun. Hindi siya malaking tabo. Jusko, di ka na nga gumagalang sa watawat at Lupang Hinirang, wala ka pang alam sa wika.
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) July 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/ChrstnSmyd/status/1278637509593853952?s=20
The Big Dipper is a constellation of Ursa Major (the Great Bear). One of the most common star forms in the northern sky, but in the Congressional hearing, Big Dipper is the name of a company, a subsidiary of ABS-CBN.
It is a digital content and production business that produces films and TV shows for distribution to other countries and to different digital platforms. It is registered with PEZA, which offers financial opportunities for technology and export-oriented companies.
https://twitter.com/abdullaharnaldo/status/1278641536868052992?s=20
HAHAHA! BIG DIPPER RAW IS TABO ACCORDING TO REMULLA! WHEN MR. CERRADO MADE IT CLEAR NA IT IS MORE OF A CONSTELLATION!
Tabo kay Remulla kasi "tumatabo raw ng pera!"
WOW! HOW LOW CAN YOU GET WITH YOUR ANGER AND HATE?! #ABSCBNfranchise
— Chelsea Arisse (@ChelseaArisse) July 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/elmreys/status/1278627215228276736?s=20
Lawmakers against ABS-CBN ‘s franchise renewal argued that Big Dipper had used its registration with PEZA as a tax shield, but the PEZA Director General said that all tax benefits enjoyed by Big Dipper were permitted under the law.
“Itong lahat po ng incentives na binibigay namin ay based on the law, the PEZA Law, there’s no such thing as making PEZA the tax shield because all these incentives are being evaluated by all these agencies of government.”
This wasn’t the first time Remulla was attacked by netizens. Last June, he was bashed for cutting off ABS-CBN legal counsel Atty. Cynthia Del Castillo during the meeting of the congress.
ABS-CBN Celebrity Nikki Valdez said it was Remulla’s “hobby” to ask questions and then interrupt the person who answered them.
https://twitter.com/nikkivaldez_/status/1270982018071851011?s=20
And just recently, the lawmaker made headlines again after he was seen on video doing something while the session attendees sang Lupang Hinirang at the ABS-CBN Network Franchise Renewal hearing.
Did Congressman Remulla violated RA 8491 or the Flag & Heraldic Code of the Philippines? Sapat na ba ang sorry? The law may be harsh but it is the law, di ba? O, echos lang ang law is the law? https://t.co/wXwvc1n1LY
— Jerry B. Grácio (@JerryGracio) July 1, 2020
The congressman apologized for the incident that had happened but he blamed ABS-CBN for it gaining attention.
“I’d like to apologize for an earlier incident na ako po’y may sinusuluat na note nung nagf-flag ceremony tayo,” Remulla said.
“As usual, the ABS-CBN people are the ones playing it up now on social media. But I will forgive them.”
Congressman Remulla apologizing to ABS-CBN CEO Carlo Katigbak for wrongly accusing the network of spreading the Lupang Hinirang video online. Nothing new. Bastos pa rin. pic.twitter.com/q0WXmhTBsw
— Hapooon (@Hapooon_) July 2, 2020
