If ever that the Filipino-American war happened today, the Filipinos may get additional support from ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez.
During the House Hearing on ABS-CBN franchise on Monday, SAGIP party-list Rep. and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta who’s grilling Lopez asked the businessman a theoretical question to test his allegiance.
“Alam niyo po Mr. Lopez ang isa pong bansa, mapa Amerika man o kahit ano pong bansa, nire-require po ang kanilang mga mamamayan na mag profess ng 100 allegiance sa kanilang bansa, ang Amerika po ay requiring 100% allegiance to its citizens, in the same manner, that our country also requires the same, total allegiance to it,” Marcoleta said.
“Mr. Lopez, you were born in America to Filipino parents, and because of the concurrent application of the national laws of the two states, nagkaroon po kayo ng dalawang citizenship, pagiging Amerikano at Pilipino,” he added.
“In a remote possibility that the Philippines declares war against the United States, which side do you take the flag of your birth or the flag of your parents?”
Unlike the ‘Panatang Makabayan’ challenge, Lopez quickly responded to the question of Marcoleta, saying that he would choose the flag of his parents.
“I’m a Filipino, I would take the side of the Philippines,” Lopez said.
Despite his patriotic answer, Lopez said that he saw no reason for him to give up his American citizenship despite the issue being faced by ABS-CBN on alleged foreign ownership.
“I do not see a situation where I have to choose between the US and Filipino citizenship,” he said.
Marcoleta asked if the issue being faced by ABS-CBN now is not enough reason for him to choose between the Philippines and America.
“Hindi pa ba sapat na dahilan ang sinasabi ng ating saligang batas sa pag mamayari at pamamahala ng mga kumpanyang may kinalaman sa mass media at dapat Pilipino lamang ang bigyan ng pagkakataon na makapamalakad at mag ari, hindi po ba ito ay isa ng halimbawa ng mahigpit na conflict of interest at kinakailangan niyo ng mamili sana Mr. Lopez?” Marcoleta asked.
Lopez responded, saying that he believes that his service to the Philippines was already enough evidence to prove his loyalty to the Filipinos.
“All my actions have been clearly on behalf of the Philippines, everything that I’ve done is in the service of the Filipino so I don’t see a situation where I’m in conflict with the US citizenship,” he said.