Committee Daily Bulletin
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CCoommmmiitttteeee DDaaiillyy BBuulllleettiinn th 18 Congress A publication of the Committee Affairs Department Vol. I No. 126 First Regular Session Department July 6, 2020 COMMITTEE MEETING ON HOUSE MEASURES MEASURES COMMITTEE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT MATTER ACTION TAKEN/DISCUSSION NO. AUTHOR Legislative HBs 6694 & Reps. Rodriguez Granting ABS-CBN Corporation (formerly The Joint Committee, co-chaired by Rep. Franchises jt. 6901 and Salo ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation) a Franz "Chicoy" Alvarez (1st District, w/ Good franchise to construct, install, operate and Palawan), Chair of the Committee on Government maintain radio and television broadcasting Legislative Franchises, and Rep. "Kuya” Jose and Public stations in the Philippines Antonio Sy-Alvarado (1st District, Bulacan), Accountability Chair of the Committee on Good Government HBs 676, Rep. Violago, Renewing for another 25 years the and Public Accountability, will sum up the 3521, 3713, Deputy Speaker franchise granted to ABS-CBN Corporation issues discussed in relation to the bills and 3947, 4305, Arenas, Reps. under RA 7966 resolutions on the renewal or grant of 5608, 5705, Tambunting, franchise to ABS-CBN in its next meeting. 5753, 6052, Aragones, 6138 & 6293 Deputy In today’s meeting, the Joint Committee Speakers discussed whether or not the ABS-CBN was Santos-Recto remiss in its duty to the public when it and Gonzales allegedly engaged in biased news reporting (A.), Reps. and propagate contents in its TV programs Rodriguez, which do not conform to Filipino culture and Ramirez-Sato, values. Zarate, Go (M.), and Deputy Rep. Sy-Alvarado said that Speaker Alan Speaker Peter "Compañero" Cayetano (1st District, Legarda Taguig City-Pateros) submitted his written manifestation to the Joint Committee stating HR 639 Rep. Lagman Urging the Committee on Legislative his personal knowledge of ABS-CBN’s Franchises to report out without further alleged "bias, partiality and favoritism" before delay for plenary action a consolidated and during the 2016 national elections. The version of eight pending bills proposing for Speaker chose to just submit his statement the renewal for another 25 years of the instead of personally asking questions to the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN officials of the media company to maintain Corporation impartiality and fairness in the conduct of the proceeding, Rep. Sy-Alvarado added. HR 839 Rep. Fortun Condemning the issuance by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) of Committee Vice Chair Rep. Michael Defensor a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN (Party-List, ANAKALUSUGAN) suggested in wanton disregard of its commitment to that today’s hearing should determine both Houses of Congress to grant the whether or not ABS-CBN acted as a broadcasting network a provisional authority "kingmaker" pushing for certain candidates, to operate pending renewal of its franchise particularly those for president, to promote its business interests. HR 846 Rep. Defensor Calling on the appropriate House (M.) committees to investigate and file criminal ABS-CBN News chief Ma. Regina Reyes cases as warranted against the denied allegations of the broadcast network’s Commissioners and officers of the NTC and partiality towards any politician or political the Solicitor General and such other officials group. She, however, acceded that ABS- and individuals for perjury and for violation CBN is not a perfect organization and may of the Code of Conduct and Ethical also have its fair share of shortcomings. Standards for Public Officials and Nevertheless, the network has an in-house Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt ombudsman, Retired Supreme Court Practices Act and other applicable laws Associate Justice Jose Vitug, who receives, investigates and makes recommendations on HR 853 Deputy Speaker Inquiry into the probable violations of ABS- complaints against erring news personnel. Duterte CBN Corporation of its legislative franchise Reyes also said that the network ensures under RA 7966 that its journalists and newscasters adhere to the company’s code of ethics and observe Continuation… HR 863 Rep. Sarmiento Urging the House of Representatives, the highest professional and ethical Legislative through the Committee on Legislative standards. Franchises jt. w/ Franchises, to admonish the NTC on its Good failure to comply with their commitment Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta (Party- Government and under oath and to conduct an inquiry, in aid List, SAGIP) and Reps. Janette Garin (1st Public of legislation, on the same and on possible District, Iloilo) and Abraham "Bambol" Accountability measures to be taken on the matter Tolentino (8th District, Cavite) narrated their personal experiences alluding to the biased Show cause order issued by the Committee reporting of ABS-CBN media personnel. on Legislative Franchises to the NTC Deputy Speaker Marcoleta and Rep. Tolentino denounced how some reporters of ABS-CBN failed to report their side of the story on certain issues where they were involved in. ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak made a public commitment that should his company be granted a new franchise, it will give public officials a chance to air their side in ABS-CBN programs should they be involved in certain issues. Rep. Garin aired her sentiments against ABS-CBN’s sensationalized and non-factual reporting on public health issues, particularly on the controversies surrounding the use of dengue vaccine Dengvaxia in the country when she was still the Secretary of Health. She questioned ABS-CBN’s choice of experts from whom it gathers information with regard to public health concerns. She then asked if ABS-CBN used the Dengvaxia issue to build close ties with President Duterte by getting back at the Aquino administration. Katigbak answered in the negative. Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) President Jun Nicdao said that all members of the KBP practice self-regulation and are subject to the Broadcast Code. He also explained that under the Broadcast Code, news reporting should be based on factual information and “should not be confused with commentaries.” He added that the KBP has a mechanism in resolving complaints against certain broadcast companies. On the query of Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (4th District, Cavite), Katigbak admitted that the media company failed to air the political ads of several national candidates during the 2016 national elections because of lack of airtime. He said that the political ads of presidential candidates Mar Roxas and the late Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago were among the ads which ABS-CBN failed to air last 2016 campaign period. Likewise, Katigbak explained that the company follows the “first come, first serve” policy in determining which candidates’ ads would get the timeslots. This was done because there was a limit on the total number of political ads the broadcast company can air per day during the campaign season. 2 of 5 Continuation… Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (2nd District, Cagayan Legislative de Oro City) asserted that the allegations that Franchises jt. w/ ABS-CBN was biased against certain Good candidates during the 2016 national elections Government and were incorrect because ABS-CBN was not Public able to also air the political ads of other Accountability presidential candidates. Rep. Rodriguez asked ABS-CBN’s commitment to not accept payments if the timeslots are already filled so that the candidates will not expect that their ads will be shown. Not airing the campaign ads of candidates who have already made payments would leave a suspicion that ABS- CBN is biased against them. Katigbak asked for some time to study the proposal because non-acceptance of payments from political candidates may also be construed as being biased. When asked if there were complaints filed against ABS-CBN for violating any election law, Commission on Elections’ head of the Campaign Finance Office, Atty. Efraim Bag- id, said that there are none. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr. (6th District, Manila) asked if ABS- CBN had “forsaken contemporary Filipino cultural values and morality” with the kind of content it shows in favor of ratings. He cited, among others, several indecent scenes and the use of foul language in some shows aired by the network in the past. ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Ma. Socorro Vidanes said that ABS-CBN complies with the classifications of the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB). She asserted that the shows of the media network portray moral and spiritual values of the Filipino family. If there are infractions, they are corrected right away and the network issues an apology to the audience, she added. Reps. Edcel Lagman (1st District, Albay), Carlos Isagani Zarate (Party-List, BAYAN MUNA), Josephine Ramirez-Sato (Occidental Mindoro), and Sarah Jane Elago (Party-List, KABATAAN) stressed the importance of upholding press freedom in the country and maintained that ABS-CBN should be granted a franchise. National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Deputy Secretary General Raymund Villanueva said that as an organization of journalists and media workers, the NUJP favors the grant of a legislative franchise to ABS-CBN. He added that despite the shortcomings of the media company, its continued operation is more beneficial than its closure considering the significant number of workers and journalists who may be affected if Congress decides not to grant the franchise. 3 of 5 Continuation… Early on, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Legislative Jesus Crispin Remulla (7th District, Cavite) Franchises jt. w/ said that he will file a complaint before the Good National Bureau of Investigation over alleged Government and “cyberbullying” against Members of the Joint Public Committee. This was after some Members Accountability were bashed in social media for their statements during the deliberations on the ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise. Rep. Ron Salo (Party-List, KABAYAN), author of HB 6901, manifested that he is withdrawing his bill granting a legislative franchise to ABS-CBN. He said that his party- list could no longer support such proposal since ABS-CBN failed to disprove the numerous accusations hurled against it.