Rep. Lito Atienza blames Cayetano on ABS-CBN closure: 'Kasalanan ni Speaker Cayetano ito. Pagkukulang niya ito sa bayan'

Photo courtesy of Alchetron and Philstar

Former Manila City Mayor and Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza aired his sentiments over the recent ABS-CBN cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Atienza believes that House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is the one to blame for ABS-CBN’s shutdown. 

In his interview over ANC’s “Headstart” Wednesday (May 6), Atienza criticized Cayetano for lagging on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal hearing since becoming a House Speaker last year.

“I would like to apologize for the failure of Congress to do its job. Kasalanan namin ito. Kasalanan ng Kongreso ito." Atienza said.

"But more important, I’d like to say squarely, kasalanan ni Speaker Cayetano ito. Pagkukulang niya ito sa bayan,” Atienza added.

Atienza said Cayetano ignored calls, even from President Rodrigo Duterte, regarding the House of Representatives to hear bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

“He will have to explain one day. It may not be today, but later on, this issue will hound him because he is the one who did not do his job." Atienza said.

"Even the President kept on reminding him, ‘Do your job. Magtrabaho na kayo. Aksyunan niyo ‘yan.’ What did he do? Nothing,” he added'

Atienza believes that the ABS-CBN's franchise renewal can be done in just one day if only the Congress acted on it. 

“In one day, pwede nating aprubahan ito. ‘Pag ito nilagay sa agenda sa plenary ngayong hapon at pagbotohan namin, kung gusto nila pagdebatihan, pagdebatihan pa namin tapos pagbotohan, mananalo ito. In one day matatapos ang trabaho,” he said. 

ABS-CBN and its radio stations went off the air Tuesday (May 5) after the NTC ordered the network to stop its operations after they failed to get a new franchise from the House of Representatives.

However, Cayetano has repeatedly insisted that there was no move in the House to close ABS-CBN down, but he never made hearings on the network’s franchise a priority either.

"Kasalanan ng Kongreso ito...kasalanan ni Speaker Cayetano ito."

Rep. Lito Atienza lashed out at Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and apologized for the failure of Congress to act on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. #ABSCBNfranchise pic.twitter.com/srPi3dt7Ws

— ABS-CBN News Channel (@ANCALERTS) May 6, 2020