Thread by @mikenavallo

EXCLUSIVE:

ABS-CBN News has learned that Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who questioned ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III's citizenship, had previously sought to allow dual citizens to run for public office without renouncing foreign citizenship.

Marcoleta authored HB03737 introduced in September 2016 which would have done away with a reqt under RA 9225 for Filipinos with dual citizenship to renounce foreign citizenship as a requirement upon the filing of a certificate of candidacy. But it did not prosper.

Marcoleta claimed Lopez was not Filipino when he became head of ABS-CBN and petitioned for recog'n of Filipino citizenship only in 2000. He conceded Wednesday that Lopez is Filipino and American but cast doubt whether a dual citizen can own, manage mass media company.

ABS-CBN's lawyer and some lawmakers pointed out no law prohibits a Filipino with dual citizenship from owning and managing a mass media company.

ABS-CBN News also found out Marcoleta was one of the principal authors of a bill renewing the franchise of Republic Broadcasting System, Inc., (GMA Network). Like ABS-CBN Holdings, GMA Holdings, Inc. issues PDRs. The language of both PDRs are exactly the same.

A 2007 document shows GMA Holdings, Inc. offered 182,692,000 PDRs to the domestic market and 639,423,000 PDRs to the international market. As of March 2020, 13.02% of GMA's PDRs are held by foreigners. It reached 23.57% in June last year.

Marcoleta authored franchises for:
-Bohol Chronicle Radio Corp. (1966)
-Catholic Bishops' Conference of PH (1967)
-Rajah Broadcasting Network (1965)
-Associated Broadcasting Company or TV5 (1960)
which all secured their first franchises more than 50 yrs ago.

ABS-CBN News tried to get Marcoleta's side since Tuesday but he said earlier today he will speak to the media on Thursday.

Important to note that Marcoleta previously said a franchise can only last for 50 years under the 1987 Constitution and that a Philippine Depository Receipt or PDR is a means for foreigners to gain ownership of a Filipino corporation.

Marcoleta voted for HB 78 amending Public Service Act w/c allows 100% foreign ownership in telecoms, public services. HB 78 limits public utilities to distribn and transmission of electricity, water pipeline distribn, sewerage pipeline subject to 60-40 ownership reqt.

WATCH: Full TV Patrol report

Part 1: Marcoleta sought to allow dual citizens to run for public office without renouncing foreign citizenship.

Now he is questioning whether Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III, a dual citizen, can own and manage a mass media company.

news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/03/20/…

Part 2: Marcoleta authored bills granting franchises to GMA, other firms older than 50 years despite his position franchise should not go beyond 50 yrs.

GMA also has foreign PDR holders.

news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/03…

For those asking, Rep. Marcoleta and his son/chief of staff did not return our calls nor respond to our messages.