Solon apologizes over supposed Visayas bloc stand on ABS-CBN issue

MANILA, Philippines — Cebu Rep. Vincent Franco Frasco (5th district) apologized on Wednesday to two of his fellow Cebu lawmakers at the House of Representatives “if their feelings have been hurt” over a supposed group stand of the Visayas bloc backing House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal issue.

Frasco issued the statement after Cebu Reps. Raul del Mar (1st District) and Rodrigo Abellanosa (2nd District) took to plenary floor on Tuesday night to deny Frasco’s earlier remark that the 48 congressmen of the Visayas bloc are supportive of Cayetano on the franchise issue, which remains pending in the House.

Frasco, who chairs the House committee on Visayas Development, earlier said that “my fellow Visayas Representatives stand solidly behind Speaker Alan in observing the protocol and courtesy due to our fellow representatives in the Committee on Franchises before whom the ABS-CBN franchise matter has been presented.”

“First of all, let me say, I have the utmost respect for both Congressmen Del Mar and Abellanosa as fellow Cebuanos and as fellow colleagues in the House. Out of respect for them who are far more senior than I, I apologize if their feelings have been hurt,” Frasco said in a text message late Tuesday night.

But Frasco clarified that he was merely expressing respect towards Cayetano.

“To clarify, however, I merely expressed what Congressmen in the House already know and believe to be true — that we respect the Speaker who has majority support, and that all of us, majority and minority, observe courtesy and protocol among our colleagues in the handling of matters assigned to specific committees,” he said.

Frasco also asked why neither Del Mar or Abellanosa “reacted as violently, if at all” to former Negros Occidental Rep. Alfredo Benitez who said that the Visayas bloc wanted Congress to act immediately on the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN.

“I would also like to thank Congressmen Del Mar and Abellanosa for confirming that contrary to former Congressman Albee Benitez’s statement on February 29 that members of the Visayan Bloc ‘agreed’ that Congress should ‘act quickly’ on the ABS CBN issue, none of us were, in fact, consulted,” Frasco said.

“I do wonder though why neither Congressman Del Mar nor Abellanosa reacted as violently, if at all, to a former Congressman purporting to speak in their behalf, as they are reacting to me now, even as I speak as Chairman of the Visayas Development Committee who is simply conveying a fact — that the Speaker is supported by the House,” the lawmaker added.

Currently, there are 11 bills pending before the House committee on legislative franchises seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.

The committee has formally started the proceedings to tackle ABS-CBN’s bid for franchise renewal by asking stakeholders to submit their position papers.

But as per the actual hearing, the committee’s chairperson, Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, said the hearings may be done between May and August.

EDV