Administration lawmakers push more probes of ABS-CBN

FIGHTING STANCE Ging Reyes, head of ABS-CBN’s Integrated News and Current Affairs,
speaks at a rally outside the ABS-CBN compound in this July 9 photo. —RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — A group of administration lawmakers is pushing more House investigations of ABS-CBN, two weeks after they led the assault that led to the denial of the broadcast giant’s franchise application.

But at least two of their colleagues on Wednesday opposed the move, saying this would be an abuse of the lawmakers’ authority and would be akin to an inquisition or an investigation “in aid of persecution.”

The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed its committee on good government and public accountability to probe the alleged condonation of loans from the Development Bank of the Philippines to companies of the Lopez family, owners of ABS-CBN.

The move is based on House Resolution No. 1040, filed on July 9 by seven lawmakers who include Deputy Speaker and Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, Deputy Speaker and Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, ACT-CIS Rep. Eric Yap, Cavite Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor, Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., and Dumper PTDA Rep. Claudine Diana Bautista.

‘Abuse of authority’

According to the resolution, DBP condoned loans amounting to P1.6 billion that was granted to Benpres Holdings Corp., which is now known as Lopez Holdings Corp.

Another resolution, filed by Marcoleta, sought to look into the authenticity of the title of a 4.4-hectare property on Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City where ABS-CBN’s head office and most of its broadcast facilities are located.

In his own House Resolution No. 1015, Remulla wanted to look into alleged violations on the franchise of Amcara Broadcasting Network Inc., an ABS-CBN subsidiary company.

Remulla questioned the “block-time arrangement” between Amcara and ABS-CBN, which allowed the latter to continue its television broadcasts beyond the May 4 expiration of its franchise.

The National Telecommunications Commission also shot down that broadcast.Lawmakers who supported the network’s franchise renewal criticized the continued inquiries.

Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza said focus should instead be on bringing the franchise committee’s decision to reject ABS-CBN’s franchise bid to the plenary for discussion and a vote to affirm or reject it.

Pursuing the inquiries against the network would be an abuse of authority on the part of lawmakers.

“We have to penalize our colleagues who may have committed abuse,” Atienza said.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the continuing inquiries would be “investigations in aid of persecution.”

“Legislative inquisitions are anathema to responsible lawmaking,” he said in a statement.

Lagman said the network should be brought to court for any alleged violations of the law because the lawmakers pushing the investigations “have obviously prejudged the issues.”

‘People’s initiative’

The congressional probes will come on the heels of a Catholic Church-run survey showing majority of Filipinos support a “people’s initiative” to renew the network’s franchise.

Results of the July 12 to July 25 Veritas Truth Survey (VTS) released on Wednesday showed 68 percent, or nearly seven out of 10 Filipinos, favored the people’s initiative, while 30.5 percent opposed it. The survey said 1.5 percent were undecided.

Using text-based and an online data gathering process, VTS polled 1,200 respondents using stratified sampling. It had a plus or minus 3-percent margin of error.

“The results of this survey at least to some extent mirrors the initial motivation of the respondents needed to jump-start such an undertaking,” said VTS head Bro. Clifford Sorita in a statement.

Fr. Anton Pascual, Radio Veritas president, said the results of the survey reflect the desire of the respondents to uphold the freedom of the press.

“Authentic press freedom is an important mechanism in the delivery of news, stories, insights and spiritual reflection to our countrymen,” he said.

According to the Constitution, a people’s initiative requires signatures from at least 3 percent of registered voters in each of the country’s 243 legislative districts and total of at least 10 percent of registered voters in the country.

After the minimum number of signatures is gathered, the Commission on Elections will verify each of the signatures and hold a plebiscite to approve the proposed measure.

—With a report from Tina G. Santos