Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano criticized politicians who he said just want to court the favor of ABS-CBN amid its franchise woes.
Cayetano said he did not see any sense in conducting Monday’s hearing at the Senate on the television network’s franchise, which will end on May,
“Parang nag-a-attendance ngayon lahat ng gustong sumipsip sa ABS-CBN, di ba?,” Cayetano told reporters.
[Translation: It seemed that those who attended were those who want to ingratiate themselves with ABS-CBN, right?]
The Senate Committee on Public Services investigated the alleged violations of the company and its compliance with the terms and conditions stated under Republic Act No. 7966.
Cayetano questioned the move of the Senate as the discussion on the network’s franchise renewal should start at the House of Representatives.
“Bakit nag-hearing ang Senate? Anong purpose? Parang nag-aattendance e. ‘Sa ABS, hello. I’m here. I’m for you.’ Kasi sabi nila, it’s not for the franchise kasi hindi pa sila pwede mag-hearing sa franchise, nandito pa. So, what’s it for?,” said the Speaker.
[Translation: Why did the Senate conducted hearing? For what purpose? It seemed that those who attended were like, ‘Hello, ABS, I’m here for you.’ Because they said that it’s not for the franchise, because they cannot conduct yet a hearing since the matter is still in the House. So what’s it for?]
He added, “There’s no question, yung iba nagmamalasakit lang, there’s no question there are solid supporters of ABS but yung iba OA (over acting) na eh, di ba? …. We want ABS to get or not get their franchise based on the merits and we can only go to the merits if we have a sober discussion through a committee hearing.”
[Translation: There’s no question, there are those who symphatize and those who are solid supporters of ABS, but the others are over acting already…. We want ABS to get or not get their franchise based on the merits and we can only go to the merits if we have a sober discussion through a committee hearing.]
However, Cayetano reiterated that the House will discuss the issue but it’s not considered urgent as of this time.
“We’ve said from the start that the reason why we think it’s important but not urgent dahil hindi naman tayo papayag that there will be a single minute na hindi nagbo-broadcast ang ABS-CBN, ang problema maraming gustong umepal, maraming gustong maging part ng solution,” he said.
[Translation: We’ve said from the start that the reason why we think it’s important but not urgent. Because we will not allow that there will be a single minute that ABS-CBN will not broadcast. Yet, the problem is there are many who want to interfere in the issue, there are many who wanted to be part of the solution.]
“The ABS-CBN has 11,000 jobs but the CITIRA produced 1.5-million jobs, di ba (right?)?.”
The Speaker assured a “more organized” hearing in the House.
There are at least 11 bills filed at the House aiming for the franchise renewal. House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez earlier said that the panel is planning to conduct hearings on the bills filed either in May or August.
