Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24)— ABS-CBN on Monday maintained its chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III is a Filipino citizen, amid reports of the media executive’s supposed foreign ties.
ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak addressed the controversy during the Senate inquiry into the network’s franchise issues, noting that Lopez holds a Philippine passport.
“Sa pagkakaalam ko po, Gabby Lopez is a Filipino citizen. Yung tatay niya po is Filipino, and may hawak din po siyang Philippine passport,” Katigbak said during the hearing.
[Translation: From what I know, Gabby Lopez is a Filipino citizen. His father is a Filipino, and he holds a Philippine passport.]
A local column revealing Katigbak’s alleged United States citizenship made the rounds online prior to Monday’s hearing.
The report said Lopez has been “traveling the world” with a US passport, scoring ABS-CBN a violation in the Constitution’s media ownership rule.
The article likewise alleged that Lopez, who has taken the network’s helm since 1987, only acquired Philippine citizenship in 2004 following the implementation of the Republic Act No. 9225 or the Dual Citizenship law.
The media company has said it will provide officials the necessary documents in an effort to prove Lopez’ Filipino citizenship.
ABS-CBN’s franchise issues— including the supposed foreign ownership and operational procedures— have surfaced following the February 10 quo warranto petition of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who sought to nullify the network’s existing franchise.
ABS-CBN has repeatedly denied the allegations, stressing it did not violate any laws. The network, however, also apologized for possible shortcomings— including for failing to air President Rodrigo Duterte’s 2016 campaign advertisements.
