Lapid breaks silence, admits bias for ABS-CBN in franchise issue

Senator Lito Lapid admitted Monday that he is biased to ABS-CBN Corporation amid the controversy surrounding the renewal of franchise of the television network.

Lapid, who seldom participates in hearings and deliberations in the Senate, said ABS-CBN is close to his heart being a part of one of the network’s shows.

“Maraming nagtataka dito kung bakit bigla akong sumulpot dito sa hearing na ito at wala naman pong  kasinungalingan, ang ABS-CBN malapit sa puso ko ‘yan dahil siguro sa lahat ng senador ako lang ang lumabas nang personal na naging artista ng ABS-CBN,” Lapid said during the Senate public services committee hearing.

“Kaya hindi po nangangahulugan na  nandito ako para ipakita na ako ay biased na pero automatic naman ‘yun,” he added eliciting laughter from his fellow senators and those inside the Senate session hall.

He asked the ABS-CBN executives if they experienced difficulty in securing and renewing their franchise in the past, to which network president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak replied this was the only time they had a hard time.

Lapid then asked why President Rodrigo Duterte was very angry with ABS-CBN.

“Galit ba ang Presidente sa inyo kaya kayo nahihirapan? Ano ‘yung galit para humihingi kayo ng tawad,” he said.

Senator Grace Poe, committee chairperson, noted that Lapid was indeed rarely participate in the hearings.

“Bihira magsalita ang ating pinuno pero pag nagsalita durog lahat. Pati ako natulala dun,” she said. —NB, GMA News