MANILA, Philippines — “Name-calling cheapens the debate.”
Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee tackling the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, said this as she once again addressed criticism from Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano that her panel’s hearing was just a venue for those who want to gain favors from the media giant.
READ: Cayetano twits ‘sipsip’ individuals amid ABS-CBN franchise woes
“You know when I deal with counterparts from the House, at least, me personally and I think many of my colleagues, we try to maintain a level of respect and decorum because name-calling cheapens the debate,” Poe said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel on Wednesday.
READ: Poe on Cayetano’s ‘sipsip’ remark: You can’t please everyone
“When you start name-calling, kung gumagamit ka ng mga salitang ganon, ibig sabihin nawawalan ka ng basehan para sa tamang argumento,” she added.
(When you start name-calling, if you use those kind of words, that means you’re running out of basis for the right argument).
Cayetano had earlier questioned the constitutionality of the Senate hearing, arguing that franchise bills should first emanate from the lower chamber before it can be tackled at the Senate.
But Poe had previously clarified that her committee would not yet release a report on the matter until a similar measure is approves by the House of Representatives.
“You know, Speaker Cayetano is a very intelligent politician and he’s been a lawmaker for many years, he should know that it’s in the Constitution that grants both houses the right for oversight. Section 6 Article 21 allows us to conduct hearings in aid of legislation and to find out if the franchise holders are compliant with the agreements that they have with the government,” Poe explained.
“I don’t know why they would think this is something out of the ordinary, we’ve conducted hearings with the budget and as well as taxes either simultaneously or ahead of the House,” she pointed out.
Poe’s panel opened its first hearing on the franchise of ABS-CBN as the House has yet to act on pending bills before it.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is also facing revocation should the Supreme Court grant the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida due to alleged “abusive practices” of the media giant.
During Monday’s hearing,the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) all cleared ABS-CBN of any violations.
READ: SEC, BIR: ABS-CBN has no violations, regularly paying taxes