Senator Grace Poe’s son praised her for showing “true statesmanship” for deciding to inhibit herself from the senate proceedings for the franchise renewal of broadcasting company ABS-CBN.

In an Instagram post, Brian Poe expressed admiration for his mother’s decision, saying that the senator already did her part when she led the controversial senate hearing on the franchise of ABS-CBN.

Brian said that the senate hearing led by his mother is fair and she gave a chance for everyone to speak and question ABS-CBN.

“Statesmanship should come naturally to a public servant. Yesterday @sengracepoe exemplified true statesmanship by announcing she would inhibit herself from the committee proceedings for the ABS-CBN franchise,” Brian said.

“She had done her part for the country by calling for a hearing where all sides were fairly represented and by joining her fellow legislators in expressing the sentiment of the Senate regarding the continuation of the franchise. Now the house will formally hear the issue. Whatever the outcome, may it be the will of the people that prevails ??,” he added.

On Wednesday, Poe announced that she’s going to inhibit herself from voting on the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN.

“Kung sakaling pinalad ang ABS-CBN at magkaroon ng boto sa House at na-transmit dito, I will inhibit myself as chairman of the actual hearing of the franchise, and I will inhibit myself from voting for the approval of that franchise because I am confident that we will have the votes here of our discerning colleagues of ours,” the lady senator said.

 

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Statesmanship should come naturally to a public servant. Yesterday @sengracepoe exemplified true statesmanship by announcing she would inhibit herself from the committee proceedings for the ABS-CBN franchise. She had done her part for the country by calling for a hearing where all sides were fairly represented and by joining her fellow legislators in expressing the sentiment of the senate regarding the continuation of the franchise. Now the house will formally hear the issue. Whatever the outcome, may it be the will of the people that prevails ??

A post shared by Brian Poe Llamanzares ✪ (@heyitsbrianpoe) on Mar 5, 2020 at 6:01am PST

Senator Poe was criticized by some lawyers like Harry Roque and Trixie Cruz-Angeles for involving herself in the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

Roque and Cruz-Angeles cited Art. VI Section 14 which states:

“No Senator or Member of the House of Representatives may personally appear as counsel before any court of justice or before the Electoral Tribunals, or quasi-judicial and other administrative bodies. Neither shall he, directly or indirectly, be interested financially in any contract with, or in any franchise or special privilege granted by the Government, or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including any government-owned or controlled corporation, or its subsidiary, during his term of office. He shall not intervene in any matter before any office of the Government for his pecuniary benefit or where he may be called upon to act on account of his office.”

Poe also admitted her connections with ABS-CBN in an interview.

“Number 1, I am the chairman of the Committee on Public Services. No.2, it’s no secret the business relationship of my family with ABS-CBN. No. 3, I am only one of 24 senators. Whatever I say, even if I am for it or against it, if the majority will not side with my opinion, it will not prevail,” Poe said in an interview.

But she defended her decision to lead the investigation, saying performed the probe fairly.

“The chairman of a hearing will allow everyone to speak. We were the ones, I, in particular, made sure that the FICTAP (Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines), the ones against the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise was invited. I allowed them to speak and everyone else. In fact, members of the labor group of ABS-CBN I didn’t call them, Sen. Angara I think asked,” she said.

However, Roque said that the involvement of Poe in the said investigation is unnecessary because other senators could lead it.

“The point is, had she followed the Constitution and the law, the hearing could still have been conducted as obviously, she is only one of twenty-four Senators. Even if she is chairman of the Committee on Public Services, the committee’s vice-chairman could have presided over the same. In other words, Sen. Poe’s participation in that hearing was not indispensable,” he said.

“Ultimately, the question goes beyond delicadeza as obviously, the senator probably does not care for such. The issue is why a senator, who knew about both her conflict of interest and should have known the prohibition against it, would wantonly violate the Constitution and the law and not have any remorse for it!” he added.

“By golly, legislators are supposed to legislate normative values important to mankind. But here now is a senator flaunting violations of no less than the Constitution and saying she did so that the nation will know her stand on the matter! Goodness, a press release or a privilege speech in this regard would have sufficed for that purpose,” he also said.

Senator Cynthia Villar is reportedly met President Rodrigo Duterte in a Pasay City Hotel to discuss a possible change of leadership in the senate.

According to the report of Tribune.net, Villar, together with five Senators, met with Duterte a few days after Senate President Vicente Sotto III led a resolution to question the decision of the President, terminating the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the United States and the Philippines.

Senators Pia Cayetano, Imee Marcos, Francis Tolentino, Ronald dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go were present during the meeting.

Villar and senators Marcos, Tolentino, Dela Rosa, Go, Pimentel and Revilla decided to abstain from the treaty resolution vote.

Some media outlets called them as “Magnificent 7” after that incident.

Villar and the other senators who talked to the President are not yet revealing additional details about the meeting.

The feud between Villar and Sotto’s group started when some allies of President Duterte also signed the resolution asking the Supreme Court to explain the senate powers in terminating treaties like the VFA.

Even Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said that he felt included to the minority instead of the majority after he saw the results of the voting.

“We are the new minority,” Dela Rosa told the press.

“Sinasabi nga na may kaniya-kaniya tayong isip pero kung doon tayo sa political side of it, majority against minority, dapat majority palagi ang mananalo but we were not able to get the majority vote,” he added.

Sotto fought back to the criticisms and claimed that Villar and other senators abstained in voting because they don’t want to offend President Duterte.

“They did not want to offend the president… That is the reason why they abstained because if you feel that a resolution is wrong, then you vote against,” he said.

This is not the first time that Villar and Sotto allegedly clashed because of the position for the Senate president.

Last year, Villar refused to sign a resolution backing Sotto as the Senate President.

Villar was reportedly being prepared to replace Sotto in the 18th Congress, but the majority of the senators decided to support Sotto.

“Bakit ako pipirma dyan? Kung ipahamak n’yo ang aking kapartido? Ako nakapirma dyan. Hihintayin ko na maayos si Pia at si Imee. ‘Di ba tama ‘yun?” Villar said.

Source: Tribune.net

Senator Richard Gordon said that the Duterte administration’s treatment to China is the possible reason why many Chinese chose to perform their illegal activities in the Philippines like money laundering.

During a senate hearing on Wednesday, Gordon said that the current administration is “too soft on China” that’s why they’re brave to break the law in the Philippines.

He even suspected that President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the illegal activities being committed by the Chinese.

“I think there’s a patina of doubt na because malapit nga si Presidente sa China baka mayroon silang mga secret negotiations on this matter… baka lang mayroon silang usapan na hindi namin nalalaman,” Gordon said.

“Tolerance is tolerance. Take it for what the word means. Hindi mo pinapahuli, eh ‘di may tolerance. Nagsumbong na sa iyo ‘yung Customs, hindi pa rin gumalaw ‘yung AMLC [Anti-Money Laundering Council],” he added.

During his privilege speech, Gordon also showed video footage showing how the Chinese workers in the Philippines affected the Filipinos living at high-end subdivisions in Paranaque.

“It’s a very organized operation—hiring buses, hiring cars, hiring vans, getting homes. Kumpleto talaga, mas organized pa sa gobyerno,” he said.

“Seventy percent of this subdivision is now occupied. Mind you, this is not a humble subdivision, it is an upper middle class,” he added.

He even said that Chinese Nationals are already swarming the country and some of them might be entering the Philippines illegally.

“It’s a creeping invasion… I’m not being Sinophobic. I’m just trying to express some concern on why there is no seeming regulation and effort to locate these people. If they have firearms, aba delikado ‘yan, if they’re bringing in money hinahanap ba natin ‘yung pera kung saan dinala?” Gordon said.

“This is just Manila. They come in to Clark, Cebu, Davao, they go everywhere. I just want to raise the alarm bells. This is just Manila, we don’t know what’s going on in other areas and that’s why we really have to find out what’s going on,” he added.

Gordon already cautioned the government on social media about the possible dangers being brought by the Chinese POGO (Philippine Offshore Gaming Operations) workers.

“Pinili ng Tsino na mag setup ng #POGOs dito sa Pilipinas kasi madali makapasok sa mga airport natin at laong nas madali kausapin yung gobyerno natin,” said Gordon on Twitter.

“The #POGO situation is a question of policy. Do we want POGO or not? Do we want to regulate POGO or kick them out?” he added.

A producer criticized the executives of broadcasting company ABS-CBN for allegedly not being sincere in their apology to the President after they aired an anti-Duterte ad paid by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV in 2016.

In a Facebook post, Robby Tarroza called the high officials of ABS-CBN as liars and called them out for asking the public for sympathy while in the past they didn’t show any pity to their former talents.

He also criticized the current talents of ABS-CBN who are defending the broadcasting network, saying that when they’re also going to get dumped when they’re not popular anymore.

“OK so after a couple of days of intense research on FACTS of the whole ABS-CBN issue against President Duterre. why I am addressing the issue between my two parties and not the re-issuance of the broadcast franchise, is because it should be known what LIARS ABS-CBN executives are!” Tarroza said.

“1st of all, you strive on public DEMAND. which includes sympathy. But you have none in the many cases of the TALENTS you let go and cared NOTHING about their future. Many have come out recently and it is disgusting! making ME appeal to the TALENTS working under abs-cbn now, who are desperately appealing to the public to suport abs-cbn. If you TALENTS are NOT RATING, would they care about YOU? how you will pay your bills? put your children to school? NO!!! pero mga executive na yan, tuloy tulloy ang mataas na sweldo nila, with benefits, buwan buwan! with retirement pa! tama? ok…. moving right along!” he added.

He urged the artists of ABS-CBN to do what is right and condemn the commercial aired by the broadcasting company in 2016 that featuring children talking bad about President Duterte.

“I now appeal to the artists who have been ALL OUT in support of abs-cbn. please do whats right. not vested interest acts. God knows your needs and will continue to provide. but doing what is right, is what will truly bless you. ABS-CBN is very cut-throat and will never side with you. trust me, I know this for a fact. Kapag Wala ka na silbi, tapon ka na!”

“Karma comes eventually. but always does. but when it does come, it is sometimes the worst ever!”

He’s also hoping that ABS-CBN is going “to change” if they’re going to survive the franchise renewal issue.

I wish abs-cbn the best. but in my heart, I know this has to end. now picking up the pieces after and rebuilding will be something rather interesting to watch,” 

He then asked if the children featured in the anti-Duterte ad are talents of ABS-CBN and the President should file charges against the broadcasting company.

“AGAIN, my reaction is based on FACTS! and it is a FACT, abs-cbn executives are liars and should be ashamed of themselves! Why have you guys NEVER admitted the attcks against Dutuerte using those children? aren’t those kids abs -cbn talents?” 

“President Duterte should have sued abs-cbn! and that is a FACT!” 

Two weeks ago, the CEO of ABS-CBN Carlo Katigbak apologized to President Duterte for not airing the local political ads he paid while the commercial paid by Trillanes was aired.

“We were sorry if we offended the President. We felt that we are just abiding with the laws and regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” Katigbak said.

“ABS (CBN) does not and will not have its own political agenda,” he added.

A netizen made a daring post on social media comparing the case of LGBT advocate Gretchen Diez and former security guard Archie Panay who led a hostage-taking last Monday.

LGBT advocate Gretchen Diez became famous after she experienced inequality after being stopped by a mall staff from using the women’s restroom while Archie Panay, a former security guard who led a hostage-taking last Monday was quickly detained by the authorities.

Panay revealed that he experienced inequality and saw the corruption being performed by the higher officials of the mall and his former security agency SASCOR.

He accused the higher security officials of SASCOR of asking P5,000 from the tenants of the mall.

According to netizen Mark Batle, Diez was even invited by the Senate of the Philippines so she could express her complaints about the rights of transwomen to use a bathroom designated for female, while Archie Panay, who’s fighting for the rights of the security officials was ignored by the politicians.

Batle called the treatment of the public officials to Diez as “special” and wished that some politicians could also do the same to Panay.

“No offense po sa mga LGBT society na friends ko dito sa fb pero totoo tong post na to, nag iisip ako lagi sa tuwing makikita ko itong issue na to na sana naman may isang mataas na nanunungkulan sa pinas na gawin din naman yung nangyari special treatment gaya nung ginawa sa issue na trans na hindi pinapasok sa cr dahil kahit noong araw pa man laganap na ang problema sa trabaho na di nabibigyan pansin at manggagawa lang mismong ang kinakawawa,” Batle said.

Some netizens didn’t like what Batle posted on social media, asking him why he needs to compare the case of Diez and Panay.

“No offense din pero bakit yan ang kailangan mong gawing comparison? Hindi ba pagmamaliit yan sa issues ng LGBT? Nalulungkot din ang LGBT community sa nangyari dahil marami sa LGBT ang maituturing na mababang uri ng manggagawa at hindi tumatanggap ng sapat na sahod at benepisyo. Lahat ng issue ng karapatang pangtao ay nangangailangang pagbuhusan ng panahon at atensyon at ang ganitong uri ng ‘crab mentality’ ay hindi nakakatulong sa pag-unlad ng bansa,” netizen Ronnel Caluag said.

“IHI vs HOSTAGE eto namang si kuya Mark nagpapatawa If we will tolerate this kind of behavior sa susunod na di ako pa-ihiin sa CR ng babae ihostage ko na lang sila lahat dun sa loob, ganun?” Chey Aceveda commented.

However, some of them agreed with the idea of Batle, suspecting that many politicians don’t want to talk about the problems of security officials.

“Karamihan sa mga security agencies eh mga general ang may ari or tga gobyerno kaya ganyan. Ska alam nila na pag bibigyan nila ng pansin yan eh sila din malulugi,” netizen Keivs Daqui said.

“Pag may pera ang involve hindi na kinakastigo kase nga may pampadulas pero pag mahirap ang naaapi matik na lilipas din ang usapin nayan. Ganyan dto sa pinas,” netizen Aron Rioja remarked.

The post of Panay already reached 51,000 shares on social media.

A professor of De La Salle University was impressed by how the current administration is spending its money.

On a social media post, Professor Van Ybiernas shared an article from the Inquirer about the 3-B pesos worth of new equipment for the Philippine National Police (PNP) and praised the Duterte government for showing that the country has a budget for improvements.

During the past administrations, Yviernas already thought that the Philippines will always be a beggar because of being lack of budget.

“Ewan ko sa inyo, pero ako nagugulat sa laki ng perang nilalabas ng gobyerno sa ilalim ni Duterte,” Yviernas said.

“Kung maniniwala ka sa mga naunang administrasyon, iisipin mong pulubi ang gobyerno natin e,” he added.

Ybiernas suspected that there might be a reason why the past administrations are seems trying to hide the true wealth of the government.

“Pero gastos ng gastos para sa pangangailangan ng bansa ang kasalukuyang gobyerno. Saan galing ang pera?” he said.