‘I’m one step closer to supporting ABS-CBN’ – Bato
MANILA, Philippines— Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said he is now “one step closer to supporting” the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN after hearing from concerned government agencies that the network has committed no violations of the law.
“Sabi ng NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) at saka sabi ng DOJ (Department of Justice) na wala kayong vinaolate, e napakagandang pakinggan pag ganun,” Dela Rosa said during Monday’s hearing of the Senate committee on public services.
(According to NTC and DOJ, ABS-CBN did not commit any violation. That’s good to hear.)
“So I’m one step closer to supporting the renewal of your franchise with that answer,” he said.
Dela Rosa clarified he had no ill-feelings towards ABS-CBN, saying he is even thankful to the network for helping many people benefiting from its public service programs.
“Pero ang akin lang, ayaw ko na maraming nagsasabi na porke malakas, powerful kayo winawalanghiya na lang nyo ang gobyerno…”
(I just don’t want to hear from people that because you are powerful, you will just disregard the government.)
“So sinasabi ninyo na wala kayong vionaliate, salamat. Maraming salamat. Wala po akong personal sa inyo. Baka sabihin nyo porke galit si Presidente sa inyo galit na rin ako. Sinasabi ko lang sa inyo gawin natin ang tama,” the senator added.
(So you’re saying you have no violations, thank you. I have nothing personal against you. Just because the President is angry at you, I’m also mad at you. I’m just telling you to do what is right.)
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block the franchise of ABS-CBN over his paid political advertisements that were not allegedly aired by the network during the 2016 elections.
Dela Rosa earlier admitted that he was biased to the President and he would “live and die” with him.
He quickly said though that he would not blindly follow the President.
“No, I’m not blind. I have my own mind. It’s just so happened that our minds are synchronized, our minds are parallel, our minds are going in the same direction but I’m not blind. I’m using my mind,” the senator earlier said.
“Kelangang fair tayo sa lahat. Pero kung sabihin mo may bias ako ngayon, hindi ako plastic na magsabi sa inyo na wala akong bias. Ako ay totoong tao, sabi ko may bias ako towards my President,” he added.
(We need to be fair to everyone. But if you’d say I am biased now, I’m not plastic to say that I’m not biased. I’m true to myself, I say I am biased towards my President.)
READ: Dela Rosa: 11k workers affected by ABS-CBN shutdown? How about the Filipino nation?
