ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez told the lawmakers that he already forgot how he acquired his Philippine driver’s license.
The driver’s license issue was brought up by ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Mike Defensor.
“Hindi ko na maalala, matagal ko ng ginagamit ‘yung driver’s license ko,” Lopez said.
Defensor explained that he asked about it because Lopez latter was supposed to get an International Driving Permit instead of a Philippine driver’s license because he’s still an American citizen during the time he applied for a license.
“Nagtataka ako nakakuha po kayo ng driver’s license pagkatapos po ay nakapag register kayo as a voter, pero ‘yung recognition po nakuha niyo noong 2001… kasi kung magre-register ako sa COMELEC, I would need to show that I’m a Filipino and if you register po sa driver’s license pagka American ang pinakita niyo na birth certificate, diba ang ibinibigay nila usually ay ‘yung international driver’s license, meaning to say meron sana na naging process na nagkaroon kayo ng recognition, hindi ko po maintindihan Mr. Lopez,” Defensor said.
Lopez said that he would review how he got his Philippine driver’s license and also his voter’s ID.
Defensor pointed out that there are many people who have the same status as Lopez, but they underwent a longer process.
“There are many Filipino-Americans and before they get a driver’s license they go to a process, before they vote and register to COMELEC they go to a process pero parang dito ho, parang dito kapag kumuha kayo ng driver’s license ay bibigyan kayo kagad at pag nag register kayo ay pwede po kagad,” he said.
“So it’s either we have a problem with our government agencies, that you know, they just gave it out or meron po tayong nami-miss na process doon po sa pagkakuha po nitong lisensya at voter’s id,” he added.
Defensor also asked if Lopez finished his Philippine Military Training in the Philippines (PMT) or his Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), but the latter said that he didn’t take it.
Lopez was being accused of violating the 100% Filipino ownership of mass media because of his citizenship.