On Thursday, February 10, UniTeam senatorial candidate Rodante Marcoleta earned the ire of ABS-CBN supporters and employees after he defended host-turned-vlogger Toni Gonzaga from critics.
Gonzaga got ridiculed after introducing Marcoleta in the proclamation rally of presidential aspirant Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos.
In an interview with SMNI News, Marcoleta said, “Si Ms. Toni Gonzaga, trabaho niya ‘yun. Kilala naman natin siya, professional siya, ‘yun ang gawain niya.”
He also pointed out in the interview that it was the Network’s fault that it got shut down.
“Yun ay isang proclamation rally, para bang pinasasama pa siya. Lalo na noong pinapakilala niya ako, ang buong akala naman ng mga naininira sa kanya, ako raw ang nagpasara ng ABS-CBN.
“Sana naman po ay lawakan ng ating mga kababayan ang kanilang pag-unawa. Nawalan po ng prangkisa ang ABS-CBN dahil na po sa kanilang mga kasalanan.”
Furthermore, Marcoleta insisted that the broadcast giant is not the only source of livelihood for Filipinos.
“Marami naman po tayong mahahanap na trabaho kung tayo po ay magtutulong-tulong. Hindi lamang po ABS-CBN ang pagmumulan ng maraming trabaho.”
Kapamilya journalist Miguel Dumaual was “shocked” by Marcoleta’s explanation and shared a compilation of articles from GMA Network showing the different government agencies that cleared the TV station from its violations.
kasalanan??? https://t.co/QXHkvjFPsJ pic.twitter.com/WhasKeNClQ
— Miguel Dumaual (@migueldumaual) February 10, 2022
kasalanan??? https://t.co/QXHkvjFPsJ pic.twitter.com/WhasKeNClQ
— Miguel Dumaual (@migueldumaual) February 10, 2022
Broadcast journalist Ian Esguerra even challenged what the senatorial aspirant has said.
He argued that it was Marcoleta and 69 lawmakers who helped President Rodrigo Duterte to close ABS-CBN.
A convenient cover-up that should never be left unchallenged. Fact: Duterte wanted to shut down the network so his congressmen voted to kill the franchise application. https://t.co/jni2zevCq3
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) February 10, 2022
IIn 2020, during one of the hearings for ABS-CBN’s franchise controversy, Simplicio Cabantac, Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Large Taxpayers Services unit head, told the Senate Committee on Public Services and cleared the Network from tax violations.
“They are regularly filing and paying their taxes for the past number of years.”
Former Kapamilya employee Kevin Manalo reiterated it and said that Marcoleta can’t claim–that it was ABS-CBN’s fault
ABS-CBN dutifully followed the law on taxes. We watched the proceedings. It is not as simple as "kanilang mga kasalanan."
— Kevin Manalo (@kevinmanalo_) February 10, 2022
A Kapamilya employee even shared the government agencies that cleared the Network from its violations.
It included the Department of Justice (DoJ), Philippine Board of Investments, Department of Foreign Affairs, National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Philippine Stock Exchange (PSC), BIR, Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE), and Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA).
https://t.co/hdAdMTUMFz pic.twitter.com/qo95oWoWOd
— 风信子 JRD (@whatsupjared_) February 10, 2022
A former Kapamilya employee, France Sajorda, inquired that Gonzaga agreed with Marcoleta’s narrative that ABS-CBN [itself] was the cause behind its downfall.
So in essence, agree si Toni G dito sa statement mo re: ABS-CBN? 🤡 https://t.co/9UF7FfUOLJ
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) February 10, 2022
Because of his statement, some netizens called Marcoleta a “liar,” apart from the confusion and humiliation.
kasalanan? anong kasalanan?? napatunayan ng ilang beses na wala wag kang sinungaling! https://t.co/WLaMGE8bmK
— Janette (@janettenotes) February 10, 2022
???????? Sinungaling https://t.co/Jh6UDJ67xo
— AltABSCBN (@AltABSCBN) February 10, 2022
I will never forget how you and your evil cohorts ganged up on ABS-CBN execs during the franchise hearing issues.
BIR already cleared that they did not commit any violations. As well as DOLE & NTC. So anong kasalanan ang pinagsasasabi mo? Ulul! https://t.co/tYr68zFUXQ
— GolCha Fanboy (@GolChaFanboy) February 10, 2022
Currently, the previously owned frequencies by ABS-CBN went to the controversial pastor and FBI’s most wanted, Apollo Quiboloy and Manny Villar.
After the House Committee on Legislative Franchises cast a vote of 70-11, the Network got shut down despite all the clearances issued by various government agencies–denying it a fresh 25-year franchise license.
