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Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, said in a congress hearing on Monday, that he cannot read the documents submitted by ABS-CBN.
When the joint hearing was about to end, Marcoleta asks Rep. “Kuya” Jose Antonio R. Sy-Alvarado, Committee for Good Government And Public Accountability Chairperson, to help him because he could not read the 83-page document submitted by ABS-CBN.
“Mr. Chair, bago po tayo magtapos, merong bagay sana akong isasangguni sa inyo sapagkat magpapatulong po ako sa inyo. Ito po binigyan sa akin na dossier ng ABS-CBN, ito po ay may 83 pages,” Marcoleta said.
“Malaki pong problema sa akin ito sapagkat ‘di ko po kayang basahin ito, kahit nga po siguro yung kuwago ‘di niya mabasa ‘to,” Marcoleta added.
Marcoleta then asked for permission to approach ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak to let the latter see his discomfort.
“Hihingi po ako sainyo ng permiso, lalapitan ko si Mr. Katigbak para ipakita ko po sa kanya ang aking discomfort, hindi po ako makakapag-participate sapagkat ‘di ko po kayang basahin,” Marcoleta said.
It was not clear if Marcoleta meant his eyesight was too poor to read the documents clearly or if he could not understand the said documents.
He then challenged Carlo Katigbak to read the first ten pages of the documents they submitted.
“Kapag ka po itong unang sampung pahina ay nabasa niya, mangangako na po ako dito, hindi na po ako sasama sa pagtatanong na ito.” Marcoleta said.
Sy-Alvarado permitted Marcoleta to approach Katigbak after the hearing but Marcoleta insisted that it needs to be recorded during the session
“Kailangan po naka-record, pag pinakita ko po sa kanya. Sayang naman po kung di ko maipapakita sa kanya,” Marcoleta claimed.
However, Sy-Alvarado said that it will be part of the interpellation.
“We will guarantee that, isa ka po sa mga magi-interpellate sa ABS-CBN,” Sy-Alvarado said.
“Papaano nga po ako makakapag-interpellate, ‘di ko nga po mabasa eh.” Marcoleta replied.
The committee secretariat was eventually directed to get better copies of documents needed by Marcoleta.
Netizens now question Marcoleta’s credibility after saying that he cannot read the documents of ABS-CBN.
Scripts are generally 120 pages. Pag teleserye, there are more pages pa which we read weekly. May 2nd draft pa yun within the week that we read right away.
Sir….83 pages lang po yun.
— Mae Cruz Alviar (@queenbeemae) June 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/PrincessFrance/status/1267325520548491264
that marcoleta can't read thru 83-paged dossier makes me wonder about the legal and academic rigor he applied to come up with args vs. abs-cbn
tanga ba siya o nagtatanga-tangahan?
— jeff (@just_jeff__) June 1, 2020
Rep. Marcoleta announces that he will not be able to question on the next hearing because he cannot read the 80+ page copy of a file from ABS-CBN where in fact Medical Students read almost over hundreds and hundreds of pages today for an exam tomorrow, jk.
— sackie. (@reyesackie) June 1, 2020
Huwag kang tamad, Marcoleta!! U read the docs of ABS-CBN. Kalowka!! #IbalikAngABSCBN
— Maria Mema Sabina Star (@coziamrandom) June 1, 2020
If PolSci majors are able to read hundreds or thousands of pages of many academic readings, bakit hindi kayang basahin ni Marcoleta ang 83 pages ng dokumento na isinubmit ng ABS-CBN? If I were to him, kahiya-hiya ako sa prof ko na hindi ko binasa ang readings. #IbalikAngABSCBN
— Gab (@gabhumilde820) June 1, 2020
Diba part ng minimum requirement sa public officials is ABLE TO READ AND WRITE? Anyare Marcoleta? #IbalikAngABSCBN
— renz ibañez (@renzbnz) June 1, 2020
Congressman Marcoleta does not read, and yet, part of your job is to read.
That's one of the bare minimum requirements.
— Quarantined CMS | #MassTestingNowPH | #OustDuterte (@cavemancamus) June 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/periwinkle525/status/1267344244047597570
https://twitter.com/akosibonbonbon/status/1267318359361613824
The said joint hearing of The House Committee on Legislative Franchises and Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability resumed discussing ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
Solicitor General Jose Calida is one of the resource persons of the said hearing.
The joint hearing discussed the questions on Gabby Lopez’s citizenship, ABS-CBN’s issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR), 50-year franchise limit violation of the network, and other allegations.
