THE House of Representatives has deferred yesterday’s hearing of the committee on justice on the authenticity of the land title of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s property on Mother Ignacia Ave. in Quezon City to avoid a duplication of findings with two other committees.
Leyte Rep. Vicente Veloso, panel chair, said the House leadership deemed it “prudent” to wait for the conclusion of the inquiries of the joint committees on legislative franchises and good government and public accountability into the alleged violations by ABS-CBN of its franchise before further investigations be made on matters that stem from those inquiries.
The legislative franchises panel chaired by Palawan Rep. France Alvarez voted 70-11 in July to deny ABS-CBN’s application for a new 25-year franchise, citing its alleged violations of the expired one.
Veloso’s panel was supposed to open its hearing yesterday on deputy speaker Rodante Marcoleta’s claim Marcoleta that the property’s land title is “made in Recto” or fake.
“Our postponement of the consideration on the matter on this alleged illegal titles will avoid duplication, especially on conflicting findings of different committees of the House of Representatives, taking into account the complexity of the issues and allegations raised in the previous hearings of the joint committee,” Veloso said.
Veloso assured Marcoleta that once the leadership gives the green light, “we will leave no stone unturned in conducting this inquiry and investigation over this issue.”
“Additionally we wish to inform you, honorable Marcoleta, that the Department of Justice, the Office of the Solicitor General and the Land Registration Authority and the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City have already been alerted about this matter,” he said.
