A journalist insisted that ABS-CBN committed a violation after their Chairman Emeritus Gabby Lopez held dual citizenship while handling the network for more than three decades.
Mike Abe of SMNI News Channel said that Lopez’ was facing big trouble because of his citizenship issue and even accused the latter that he’s not really planning to become a Filipino.
“Hindi niya naman talaga gustong maging Pilipino eh, ngayon lang na lately ay nagkabukuhan na gusto niyang maging Pilipino,” Abe said.
“Alam niyo kung bakit? Sa ilalim ng batas ng America, pag ikaw ay citizen sa America dahil doon ka pinanganak automatic American citizen ka, pero pag dating ng 18 years old or 21 years old, mamimili ka, tatanungin ka ng US government kung ipagpapatuloy mo ang American citizen o ikaw ay babalik sa bansa kung saan ka nangaling,” he added.
Abe also claimed that Lopez only decided to be a Filipino citizenship after 48 years.
The journalist explained that the law required mass media in the Philippines to be owned only by 100% Filipinos because it could affect the national security of the country.
“Ang broadcast company, ang media entity, dahil napakalaki ng impluwensiya sa tao… Alam niyo ba na pwedeng maging security threat ng buong gobyerno ang isang media company kapag hindi 100% Filipino ang may ari dahil pwede silang magbagsak ng gobyerno,” he said.
He claimed that ABS-CBN controlled the politics in the Philippines for decades, saying that local or national officials were afraid of the Kapamilya network.
Abe also said that he’s not earning money from criticizing ABS-CBN and only pushing his advocacy that no one should be above the law.
According to the U.S Bureau of Consular Affairs, “U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship. However, persons who acquire a foreign nationality after age 18 by applying for it may relinquish their U.S. nationality if they wish to do so. In order to relinquish U.S. nationality by virtue of naturalization as a citizen of a foreign state, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. nationality. The intent may be shown by the person’s statements and conduct.”
During the hearing, Lopez insisted that he’s Filipino-at-heart, but admitted that he voted in the 2016 U.S election.
Lopez also denied that he pledge allegiance to America.
“I stand by my record over the last 35 years. I have been committed to the people of this country. This is a trust that have been passed on to me by my father and his father before him,” Lopez said.