On Tuesday, August 16, Rep. Rodante Marcoleta targetted the partnership deal of TV5 and ABS-CBN, drawing the ire of Gretchen Ho and Ogie Diaz, along with netizens and personalities.
Marcoleta believed the partnership between the two broadcasting giants violated some laws and the 1987 Constitution. He claimed that TV5 has ties with foreign ownership.
“This particular deal must be looked into Mr. Speaker, and I think, because of this deal, we have yet to have let the proverbial cat out of the bag Mr. Speaker. Why? MediaQuest, the parent company of TV5, is owned by PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund. And the grapevine Mr. Speaker is so loud that PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund is owned by an Indonesian national,” he said.
Such move is similar to what he did to the Kapamilya Network in 2020. He insisted foreign nationals owned the now franchise-less Network.
TV personality Gretchen Ho only laughed at the House representative’s statement, tweeting, “After going through so much in the past years… Seriously, there is nothing we can’t handle anymore.”
After going through so much in the past years.. Seriously, there is nothing we can’t handle anymore 😂 https://t.co/nkU4ZG0xx4
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) August 15, 2022
On the other hand, Ogie Diaz lambasted Marcoleta for “trying to be the savior of the Philippines.”
Diaz pointed out that ABS-CBN did not violate laws, but the Duterte Government castigated the media company.
The Kapamilya Network, to return to free TV, bought shares from TV5. The lawmaker tried to prevent the possibility by wondering if it is allowed by Philippine laws.
“Pupwede ba Mr. Speaker, na ang isang network na hindi na natin binigyan ng lisensya because of these established violations, wala na siyang prangkisa, pwede ba siyang sumakay nang gano’n gano’n lang without settling the obligations to the country, to the government?” he wondered.
Diaz had enough of Marcoleta’s antics as he wrote on his tweet, “Ngayon bumili ng shares, me kuda pa din kayo. Sa panahon ngayon, kailangan ng pera ng gobyerno. Ikaw ba sasagip ng bansa, ng mawawalan ng trabaho? O ikamamatay mo ‘pag nangyari yung ayaw mo? Move on ka na po.”
Juice ko po, sir. Sumunod naman, pero ayaw nyong tanggapin. Ngayong bumili ng shares, me kuda pa din kayo. Sa panahon ngayon, kailangan ng pera ng gobyerno. Ikaw ba sasagip ng bansa, ng mawawalan ng trabaho? O ikamamatay mo pag nangyari yung ayaw mo? Move on ka na po. https://t.co/W2E4qOUEpm
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) August 15, 2022
Twitter personality RJ Naguit ridiculed Marcoleta’s party-list–SAGIP Party-list does not deserve its name.
https://twitter.com/docrjnaguit/status/1559345847573180416
Ericson Layos, a blogger, was tired with Marcoleta trying to target ABS-CBN. He tweeted, “Wala na bang ibang problema ang Pinas at naka-spotlight sa ABS-CBN?”
Wala na bang ibang problema ang Pinas at naka spotlight Sa ABSCBN? https://t.co/HXsuuO2cJj
— 𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐎𝐒 (@ericsonlayos) August 15, 2022
France Sajorda even called out Marcoleta, suggesting that it is high time he saves his name.
Marcobeta, ang nag-leave ng bad taste in the mouth ay yang bunganga mo mismo. TWO YEARS na walang prangkisa ang ABS-CBN, may naisampa bang kaso against the network? WALA.
Please, SAGIPin mo ang pangalan mo. Ang dumi dumi dumi na. https://t.co/N9FW9i4toy
— Miss France Sajorda (@PrincessFrance) August 15, 2022
Netizens also urge the lawmaker to stop his tirade against the Kapamilya Network.
https://twitter.com/shangti03/status/1559382366593900545
A netizen speculated that Marcoleta is being paid by the newest broadcasting company, Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) to prevent the return of ABS-CBN.
“For a newcomer like AMBS, a TV5 & ABS merger is bad bad news.”
Seems like someone’s on AMBS’s payroll.
For a newcomer like AMBS, a TV5 & ABS merger is bad bad news https://t.co/jhVSO99E1j
— Mark Bernaldez (@mark_bernaldez) August 16, 2022
Another also argued that Marcoleta’s “voice of reasoning” can be heard if ABS-CBN is the topic but was unheard of in times of corruption issues.
Bkt sa korapsyon ng pamahalan tahimik kayo? Bakit pagdating sa malayang pamamayag ang ingay nyo?
People like you are not deserve in that place!! https://t.co/s0BNu8p9bw
— alben (@calvinc_105) August 16, 2022
“People like you [do not] deserve in that place!” said the netizen.
