ABS-CBN journalist Atty. Mike Navallo has single-handedly burned SAGIP Partylist Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s allegations against ABS-CBN.
In a series of tweets that were also filed as an exclusive report for TV Patrol, Navallo debunked all of Marcoleta’s accusations against ABS-CBN and its former Chairman Gabby Lopez through his own principally authored bills in Congress.
EXCLUSIVE:
ABS-CBN News has learned that Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who questioned ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III's citizenship, had previously sought to allow dual citizens to run for public office without renouncing foreign citizenship. pic.twitter.com/hoOobMYJFA
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
Marcoleta has been at the forefront opposing the grant of the ABS-CBN franchise in the congressional hearings.
His latest issue deals with ABS-CBN Chairman Emeritus Gabby Lopez’s dual citizenship.
For hours, Marcoleta kept on pounding Lopez with questions about his citizenship insinuating he shouldn’t have owned and managed ABS-CBN because he is a dual citizen.
However, Navallo found out that Marcoleta ironically authored a bill allowing dual citizens to run for public office even without renouncing their foreign citizenship.
Marcoleta authored HB03737 introduced in September 2016 which would have done away with a reqt under RA 9225 for Filipinos with dual citizenship to renounce foreign citizenship as a requirement upon the filing of a certificate of candidacy. But it did not prosper. pic.twitter.com/FdaHxnnsoY
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
Meanwhile, in Marcoleta’s claim that ABS-CBN cannot be given another franchise because they’ve already reached the 50-year limit on legislative franchises having been broadcasting for more than 50 years, further research found out that the Sagip Congressman was the principal author of a bill granting a fresh franchise to networks that also exceeded 50 years of operation like GMA Network, TV5, CBCP, Bohol Chronicle, and Rajah Broadcasting.
Marcoleta authored franchises for:
-Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. (1966)
-Catholic Bishops' Conference of PH (1967)
-Rajah Broadcasting Network (1965)
-Associated Broadcasting Company or TV5 (1960)
which all secured their first franchises more than 50 yrs ago. pic.twitter.com/2vBwZjX7Ol— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
Marcoleta also pointed out ABS-CBN’s Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) which according to him violated the constitutional provision on foreign ownership of media.
However, GMA Network also sold PDRs to foreigners which defeats Marcoleta’s argument since he authored GMA’s franchise renewal bill.
ABS-CBN News also found out Marcoleta was one of the principal authors of a bill renewing the franchise of Republic Broadcasting System, Inc., (GMA Network). Like ABS-CBN Holdings, GMA Holdings, Inc. issues PDRs. The language of both PDRs are exactly the same. pic.twitter.com/Y8ZktbMkZ7
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
A 2007 document shows GMA Holdings, Inc. offered 182,692,000 PDRs to the domestic market and 639,423,000 PDRs to the international market. As of March 2020, 13.02% of GMA's PDRs are held by foreigners. It reached 23.57% in June last year. pic.twitter.com/ZcsMy82dY5
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
Also while Marcoleta kept on arguing about Gabby Lopez’s dual citizenship, he voted yes to HB 78 amending Public Service Act w/c allows 100% foreign ownership in telecoms, public services business.
Marcoleta voted for HB 78 amending Public Service Act w/c allows 100% foreign ownership in telecoms, public services. HB 78 limits public utilities to distribn and transmission of electricity, water pipeline distribn, sewerage pipeline subject to 60-40 ownership reqt. pic.twitter.com/kE3ZCTPiE5
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 3, 2020
