MANILA, Philippines – Solicitor General Jose Calida finally attended the resumption of the House committee hearing on the proposed franchise renewal of ABS-CBN on Monday morning, June 1.
Calida, who had earlier challenged the media giant, faced the lawmakers after he was warned for possible contempt charges. He has missed the previous Congress hearings that sought to grant ABS-CBN's franchise renewal for up to 25 years.
Calida was responsible for asking the Supreme Court to abolish ABS-CBN's franchise due to alleged legal issues like foreign ownership and illegal pay-per-view.
SolGen said that he joins House Speaker Peter Cayetano to give ABS-CBN a fair and honest investigation. He said, "Nakikiisa ako sa layunin ni Speaker Cayetano na mabigyan ng isang patas, tapat, at mabusising imbestigasyon ang ABS-CBN.”
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The solicitor general stood by his earlier decision that the media giant committed violations. He said ABS-CBN has been deceiving the Filipinos for decades and it's high time they need to face the law.
Calida said, "Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. For decades now, ABS-CBN has been deceiving the Filipino people. Their hour of reckoning may have been delayed, but it has now come."
Calida went on to quote Frank Sinatra's popular song "My Way" saying, "And now, the end is near."
The solicitor general also refused to answer more questions saying he is not allowed to make statements on the ABS-CBN case pending at the Supreme Court.
Calida said they have "championed fights for the rule of law" and noted the cases of Senator Leila De Lima and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. He said they filed and won before the Supreme Court.
"Bakit pa kami titigil ngayon? Responsibilidad naming ipagpatuloy ang laban na ito. Hindi para sa aming sarili kundi para sa sambayanang Pilipino," he said.
The House committee is set to discuss the citizenship of Gabby Lopez in another hearing scheduled on Wednesday at 9:30am.
— Sally, The Summit Express
Calida, who had earlier challenged the media giant, faced the lawmakers after he was warned for possible contempt charges. He has missed the previous Congress hearings that sought to grant ABS-CBN's franchise renewal for up to 25 years.
Calida was responsible for asking the Supreme Court to abolish ABS-CBN's franchise due to alleged legal issues like foreign ownership and illegal pay-per-view.
SolGen said that he joins House Speaker Peter Cayetano to give ABS-CBN a fair and honest investigation. He said, "Nakikiisa ako sa layunin ni Speaker Cayetano na mabigyan ng isang patas, tapat, at mabusising imbestigasyon ang ABS-CBN.”
SEE ALSO: Katigbak fact-checks Marcoleta's claims
The solicitor general stood by his earlier decision that the media giant committed violations. He said ABS-CBN has been deceiving the Filipinos for decades and it's high time they need to face the law.
Calida said, "Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith. For decades now, ABS-CBN has been deceiving the Filipino people. Their hour of reckoning may have been delayed, but it has now come."
Calida went on to quote Frank Sinatra's popular song "My Way" saying, "And now, the end is near."
The solicitor general also refused to answer more questions saying he is not allowed to make statements on the ABS-CBN case pending at the Supreme Court.
Calida said they have "championed fights for the rule of law" and noted the cases of Senator Leila De Lima and former Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. He said they filed and won before the Supreme Court.
"Bakit pa kami titigil ngayon? Responsibilidad naming ipagpatuloy ang laban na ito. Hindi para sa aming sarili kundi para sa sambayanang Pilipino," he said.
The House committee is set to discuss the citizenship of Gabby Lopez in another hearing scheduled on Wednesday at 9:30am.
— Sally, The Summit Express
