House Deputy Speaker for Internal Affairs Neptali Gonzales II stated last Monday that to discuss the bills seeking ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal is very difficult, especially now that the Philippines is under lockdown due to pandemic COVID-19 disease.
Gonzales is also not sure if conducting an online hearing for ABS-CBN’s franchise is feasible because there are several issues involved.
Neptali stated: “Because of the ‘new normal’ in conducting a committee hearing at sa dami ngayon ng naka-quarantine… it’s very difficult. Di ko malalaman kung kakayanin ng Zoom meeting ‘yon because of the various issues involved.”
Neptali’s statement triggered Agot Isidro which led the latter to express her opinion. As per Agot, if the government has the intention to bring back the giant network on-air, they would find other ways, but unfortunately, Filipinos are seeing some delaying tactics from the government.
Agot said: “People have raised millions of pesos for charity while sitting in their homes during lockdown. Kung gusto, may paraan. Kung ayaw, may dahilan.”
People have raised million of pesos for charity while sitting in their homes during lockdown.
Kung gusto, may paraan.
Kung ayaw, may dahilan. https://t.co/whXlVAQnQF— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) May 12, 2020
As a constant critic of the current administration, Isidro pointed out that President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to submit his statement of assets, liabilities, and net worth as mandated by law.
Since Duterte supporters have been ranting ‘law is law’ against Kapamilya celebrities, then the law should also apply to him. In addition to that, as a President, he should comply with every law specifically to RA 11469 also known as Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. RA 11469 requires the President to submit a weekly report to the Congress every Monday but he failed to do so.
Law is law!
– Sabi ng mga D/DS tungkol sa ABSCBN shutdown.
– Pakisabi sa Presidente, mag submit siya ng SALN. Kasi nga…
Law is law! 😏
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) May 12, 2020
nakalagay sa RA 11469 aka Bayanihan to Heal as One Act na “The President of the Philippines shall submit a weekly report to Congress, every Monday, of all acts done for this law including the amount and corresponding utilization of funds.” so nilabag niya ang sarili niyang batas. https://t.co/16mrvMxkFd
— Tita Krissy Achino (@KrissyAchino) May 11, 2020
Netizens also have raised their opinions towards the unreleased SALN of the President, here are some of their statements:
Bakit ayaw magrelease ni Duterte ng SALN? His predecessors since the SALN law was enacted never failed to release them. Duterte baket?
— Holan (@jolanpaul) May 9, 2020
Napakadaling irelease kung walang itinatago. Ilang billion na kaya ang worth nya?
— Holan (@jolanpaul) May 9, 2020
hoy putangina naalala ko lang. wtf happened to Duterte's SALN nga pala?! tangina
— kaba.titi (@just_rovic) May 11, 2020
Is it true that Duterte hasn't made his 2018 SALN public?
— TJ Salvador (@timoteej) May 10, 2020
Manny Pacquiao's worth $435M. He is No. 8 highest-earning athlete of the decade, according to @Forbes.
I would also like to see the real SALN of Duterte, the Marcoses, & all the TraPos in the govt.
The Philippines would be far richer if it weren't for all those GREEDY VERMINS. https://t.co/hzyf6GXtJd
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) December 25, 2019
In relation to ‘law is law’ argument of celebrities and bashers, Kim Atienza also pointed out during “Laban Kapamilya” online petition that other companies with the same franchise issue with ABS-CBN have received provisional authority from NTC.
Kim Atienza: “Napakaraming kompanya ang hindi pa nabibigyan ng prangkisa pero binigyan ng provisional authority, at hinde binigyan ng cease and desist order at nang maipasa ng kongreso itong prangkisa? Tayo, sinabi ng kongreso binigay sa atin – binigay ni Speaker Alan Cayetano, na didinggin ito at gagawin ng kongreso ang kanilang trabaho at habang hinahanda nila Speaker Alan Cayetano, eto na binigyan tayo ng Cease and Desist order.”
