Charles Teves
ABS-CBN reporter Mike Navallo has been criticized by House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta for allegedly spreading misinformation about him authoring bills granting franchises to firms with operating for more than 50 years and offering Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) during a House joint panel hearing on the network’s franchise on Monday.
It was reported last week by ABS-CBN that Marcoleta was in fact the principal author of bills granting franchises to firms that have operated for more than 50 years and offer PDRs which was his reason for opposing the media giant’s franchise renewal.
Navallo said he had reached out to Marcoleta for comment but the Congressman sought to delay the reply to the following day. Marcoleta had also asked Navallo to organize a press conference for him, something the latter could not do as it was unethical for a media organization to do so for a politician.
Marcoleta responded saying Navallo wasn’t allowed to conduct a meeting with him, which the latter denied because it was actually his superiors who advised him not to do so.
“Ang tinanggihan ay ang pag organisa ng isang reporter ng isang press conference para sa kongresista at sa ibang media dahil taliwas ito sa tungkuling ng isang mamamahayag,” said Navallo.
ABS-CBN supporters commended Navallo for his courage.
Public records are source documents. @mikenavallo did the “extra mile” work that good reporters do — get in touch w Marcoleta to try to understand why he moved from point a to point b (dual citizens owning a media firm) and c (no franchise for networks after a certain time)
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) June 8, 2020
Mike Navallo was first bullied by the Solicitor General and now Rep. Rodante Marcoleta but Atty. @mikenavallo did not stop, pause, or hesitate to give us FAIR, INFORMATIVE, AND RELATIVE NEWS. That's professionalism. The country needs that now. Salute.
— JJ Bautista (@PetitPrinceJJ) June 8, 2020
Navallo > Calida + Marcoleta
— Quick Ben (@QB1710) June 8, 2020
#LabanKapamilya
Laban lang Atty. Mike.🥳Calida, Marcoleta. Mga walang kwenta.🥳
— 𝕵𝖊𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖆𝖍 𝕮𝖆𝖚𝖘𝖎𝖓𝖌 (@jeremiahcausing) June 8, 2020
We all admire how @mikenavallo is so calm and educated while answering a while ago. This is the biggest slap to Marcoleta. You dont really need to fight everytime. Your attitude and intelligence will always speak for yourself.
We stan mike navallo
— Rosas #LeniKiko2022 (@UrRm12) June 8, 2020
https://twitter.com/josephine_pov/status/1270030856178905089?s=20
“Matagal na ako sa Kongreso, wala pa po akong ni isang iniakda na prangkisa sapagkat ang sector ko ay urban poor, wala po silang kakayahan na mag-ari ng istasyon pang radyo o pang-telebisyon,” Marcoleta said responding to the allegation.
Marcoleta said Navallo made up the entire allegation because he knows nothing about it.
“Ang balita po, ay mga naganap na mga bagay bagay sa isang araw na kinalap ng reporter, ibabalita niya, walang labis, walang kulang. Ang reporter po ay walang karapatan gumawa ng sarili niyang balita.”
Unfortunately for Marcoleta, the information on that Navallo referred to is on Congress’ own official website, verifying what was in the news report.
