Several Kapamilya celebrities have slammed Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s delayed reaction to ABS-CBN’s closure.
Cayetano had previously assured the company, its management, and all its employees that ABS-CBN will continue operating beyond its franchise expiry, even saying he would be the one to switch on ABS-CBN’s transmitter if needed.
Here’s what Sen. Alan Cayetano said on what he will do if NTC will not issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN. Let’s make him accountable. #NoToABSCBNShutDown pic.twitter.com/6OHiEMftoU
— Arnold Gamboa (@arnoldgamboa) May 6, 2020
That’s what MOR DJ Chaha has remembered from Cayetano after the NTC decided to issue cease and desist order against ABS-CBN and after Cayetano came out from several days of absence and silence.
"Kung kailangan physically ako ang mag-on ng transmitter or pumunta doon, gagawin ko 'yan.Hindi naman tayo papayag that there will be a single minute na hindi nagbobroadcast ang ABS-CBN ang prublema maraming gustong umepal." – Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) May 8, 2020
Kapamilya broadcast journalist Tony Velasquez meanwhile blasted Cayetano’s double-speak as the latter claimed that in his first months as Speaker he already made ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal one of the Congress’ priorities.
O ano na, i-deny pa ba? Wag mong masabi sabi na fake news ito ha, hindi bulag at tanga ang karamihan ng Pilipino. Tigilan na yang kaka-quote ng Bible verses, dahil tandaan ang kasabihan… Even the devil can quote Scripture. Haring Mother talaga! https://t.co/lDx9YuOYql
— Tony Velasquez (@KakanTuring) May 8, 2020
Julius Babao on the other hand scored the House Speaker’s lengthy press release which still did not disclose when will they schedule ABS-CBN’s franchise hearing.
Ang haba ng statement ni Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano tungkol sa ABS-CBN franchise. Pero ang tanong, Kailan na ba talaga ito pag-uusapan sa Kongreso? pic.twitter.com/WXC1J2DByg
— julius babao (@juLiusbabao) May 8, 2020
Juan Miguel Severo meanwhile called Cayetano a liar.
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1258618106076753920
Another example of double speak from this government. https://t.co/pHYHvTV4Et
— Ces Oreña-Drilon (@cesdrilon) May 7, 2020
On Thursday, May 7, Speaker Alan Cayetano broke his silence regarding the ABS-CBN shutdown issue.
Starting his statement with a bible verse, Cayetano then went on with a litany of excuses why they failed to tackle the franchise bill of ABS-CBN which in the end put the blame on Solicitor General Jose Calida’s interference with their agreement with the NTC.
https://www.facebook.com/alanpetercayetano/posts/3014488201977274
In March during their Legislative Franchises hearing in Congress, the NTC committed to give ABS-CBN provisional authority. That was in line with Cayetano and committee chairman Franz Alvarez’s letter to the NTC asking them to do so.
However, NTC abandoned their commitment and instead issued a cease and desist order against the media network.
But prior to the agreement, the franchise renewal bills have been pending in congress since 2016. 11 franchise bills have been filed as early as the opening of the 17th congress, but the House leadership dragged it on assuring ABS-CBN and the public that the media network will continue operating until March 2022.
“Bakit ko sinasabing hindi urgent, don’t get me wrong. Napakalaki po ng franchise ng ABS-CBN.Hindi lang sa 11,000 empleyado. Importante ‘to sa buong bansa, sa democracy natin. Pero, hindi ganun ka-urgent. Bakit? Kasi, hanggang March 2022, puwedeng mag-operate, e, di ba?” Cayetano claimed then.
And the rest is history.
