MANILA, Philippines – ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap claimed that he had received an offer of P200 million to vote in favor of granting ABS-CBN its franchise renewal.
In his call for fair reporting on ABS-CBN's franchise issue on Wednesday, Rep. Yap said he received a message from an emissary offering a bribe for him to vote YES to the franchise renewal. He said the offer was made weeks ago but he didn't divulge it to the media because he was unsure if the emissary was really from ABS-CBN and it would be unfair to the network if the report would leak.
He said, "More than two weeks ago, someone called me up, identified himself as ABS-CBN’s emissary who was urging me to vote in favor of ABS-CBN in exchange for P200 million. I made a simple answer: My vote and principles are not for sale."
SEE ALSO: POLL RESULTS: 92-percent believe ABS-CBN deserves fresh franchise
“Did I release this to the media? No, because I am not sure if the person is really ABS-CBN’s emissary, and it is unfair that ABS-CBN’s name is placed in jeopardy and also unfair to the proceedings of the joint committee that is discussing the franchise issue,” he added.
Rep. Yap also reacted in several reports circulating that showed documents of the expected votes of the members of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. He denied that the lawmakers are being pressured to vote against the ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
"Press freedom is alive, but it is also the responsibility of our journalists to deliver the truth. I read that there are people pressuring lawmakers to vote against ABS-CBN but it was merely an accusation without mentioning any credible source,” Yap said in a statement written in Filipino.
“They said there is a list of votes made by lawmakers even if it is very clear that no voting has been made yet,” he added.
READ: Report predicts ABS-CBN will not get a new franchise
Earlier, a report was published online showing how likely the lawmakers will vote on the controversial ABS-CBN franchise renewal. The documents showed that members of the committee against the renewal outnumber those who are supporting it.
SEE ALSO: Bato to ABS-CBN employees: Hanap na lang kayo ng ibang trabaho
— Sally, The Summit Express
In his call for fair reporting on ABS-CBN's franchise issue on Wednesday, Rep. Yap said he received a message from an emissary offering a bribe for him to vote YES to the franchise renewal. He said the offer was made weeks ago but he didn't divulge it to the media because he was unsure if the emissary was really from ABS-CBN and it would be unfair to the network if the report would leak.
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| ACT-CIS party-list Rep. Eric Yap claims ABS-CBN's emissary offered P200 million to vote in favor of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal. |
He said, "More than two weeks ago, someone called me up, identified himself as ABS-CBN’s emissary who was urging me to vote in favor of ABS-CBN in exchange for P200 million. I made a simple answer: My vote and principles are not for sale."
SEE ALSO: POLL RESULTS: 92-percent believe ABS-CBN deserves fresh franchise
“Did I release this to the media? No, because I am not sure if the person is really ABS-CBN’s emissary, and it is unfair that ABS-CBN’s name is placed in jeopardy and also unfair to the proceedings of the joint committee that is discussing the franchise issue,” he added.
Rep. Yap also reacted in several reports circulating that showed documents of the expected votes of the members of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. He denied that the lawmakers are being pressured to vote against the ABS-CBN franchise renewal.
"Press freedom is alive, but it is also the responsibility of our journalists to deliver the truth. I read that there are people pressuring lawmakers to vote against ABS-CBN but it was merely an accusation without mentioning any credible source,” Yap said in a statement written in Filipino.
“They said there is a list of votes made by lawmakers even if it is very clear that no voting has been made yet,” he added.
READ: Report predicts ABS-CBN will not get a new franchise
Earlier, a report was published online showing how likely the lawmakers will vote on the controversial ABS-CBN franchise renewal. The documents showed that members of the committee against the renewal outnumber those who are supporting it.
SEE ALSO: Bato to ABS-CBN employees: Hanap na lang kayo ng ibang trabaho
— Sally, The Summit Express
