MANILA – Sen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa said the welfare of the nation was more important than 11,000 people who could lose their jobs if ABS-CBN Corp failed to renew its franchise by March 30, 2020.
“What is 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation na matagal ng sinamantalahan ng isang kumpanya – kung talagang ma-prove ‘yan sa hearing na pinagsamantalahan ang sambayanang Pilipino,” he said in a chance interview with reporters on Tuesday.
Nearly 11,000 regular and non-regular employees and talents may lose their jobs if the broadcast giant is forced to cease operations without a renewed franchise.
“Kung mabigat ‘yung akusasyon na talagang maraming violations ang ABS-CBN, bakit mo pa ire-renew,” the neophyte senator added.
Dela Rosa also said he shares President Rodrigo Duterte’s views in relation to the issue on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“Ako, I will live and die with President Duterte. I will sink and swim with him,” Dela Rosa said. “Pero sa nakikita ko he’s doing it for the good of the majority of the Filipino people so pareho kami ng objective sa buhay.”
“Kailangang ang gobyerno ang magru-rule dito sa ating bansa at ang sambayang Pilipino ay makikinabang. ‘Yun ang kanyang objective sa buhay nya so ganun din ang objective ko,” he added.
Solicitor General Jose Calida last week has filed a quo warranto plea before the Supreme Court seeking to invalidate the ABS-CBN franchise, citing alleged violation of law. The network’s franchise is set to expire at the end of March.
Currently, there were at least 11 bills for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal that are pending in the House of Representatives with less than a month before Congress goes on break on March 14./PN
Ano ang welfare sang Pilipinas kong ma sira ang ABS CBN. Bato ang utak mo walang laman. Sayang ang pag Senador mo hindi mo ginagamit utak mo. Pinapakita mo ang pagka bobo mo na Senador.