Tambunting explains why House briefing on ABS-CBN, TV5 deal didn’t push through

Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting said it was his decision to remove the briefing on the ABS-CBN and TV5 deal from the agenda of the Committee on Legislative Franchises, which he chairs.

The reason for removing it on the panel’s agenda on Thursday, Aug. 18? IIt’s clerical than it is controversial, at least according to Tambunting.

“It was there initially pero we, I decided to take it out first so that we go on first with the organizational meeting…then we discus various bills after we have formally organized,” he told House reporters.

The basis for the briefing was supposedly SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta’s privilege speech Monday, Aug. 15 wherein he assailed the deal between the two networks and casted doubt on its legality.

But Tambunting said that several measures regarding the ABS-CBN and TV5 deal have also been referred to his committee, prompting the panel to go on consolidation mode. Otherwise, the ABS-CBN-TV5 issue will become a repetitive one.

“Kasi ho may mga pumasok na mga ibang resolusyon na tingin ko dapat pag-aralan namin para hindi paulit-ulit ang trabaho (It’s because several resolutions have been referred to us and thus we need to study it, or else our work will be repetitive),” he said.

“Eh di ko naman alam na papasok yung mga bills kahapon. So sabi ko pag-isahin na lang natin to save time. Para di tayo paulit-ulit (I wasn’t aware that the bills would be referred yesterday. So I said let’s just consolidate them to save time. So that we won’t become repetitive),” Tambunting added.

“We will schedule a hearing no for all of these once na nabuo na namin (once we complete it),” the panel chairman said, although he could give a date to the reporters.