MANILA, Philippines — What is 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN compared to the entire nation who may have been abused by the network if allegations against it were indeed true?

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Neophyte Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa raised the question on Tuesday as he reaffirmed his bias in favor of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has openly threatened to block the network’s franchise renewal.

The franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire on March 30 this year.

But Dela Rosa questioned the veracity of reports that 11, 000 employees of ABS-CBN would be affected if the franchise is not renewed or extended by Congress.

“11,000 talaga? Sigurado ka (Is that really 11,000? Are you sure?)?” he asked a reporter in an interview in the Senate, saying he received a text from the network that it was not actually 11,000 workers.

“Anyway, regardless kung ilan yun, what’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation na matagal ng sinamantalahan ng isang kumpanya kung talagang ma prove yan sa hearing na pinagsamantalahan ang sambayanang Pilipino. What’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation?” he further asked.

(Anyway, regardless of the number, what’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation that has long been taken advantage by one company if that is proven in the hearing. What’s 11,000 compared to the whole Filipino nation?)

The Senate committee on public services headed by Senator Grace Poe has already scheduled a hearing on ABS-CBN franchise on February 27 pending action from the House of Representatives.

Though insisting that franchise bills should emanate from the House, Dela Rosa said he would still support Senate hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise for as long as the panel would not come up with a report.

Under the rules, the House should first hear and approve a franchise bill for Senate’s concurrence.

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Dela Rosa said he would vote on the ABS-CBN’s franchise based on the veracity of allegations that would be presented against the network.

“E kung mabigat yung akusasyon na talagang maraming viniolate ang ABS, bakit mo pa i re-renew. Kung talagang ma prove dun sa hearing na grabe.. sinamanlala ng husto ng ABS-CBN ang samabayanang Pilipino, bakit nyo pa i renew?”

(If the allegations are serious that ABS has committed many violations, then why renew [the franchise]? If it’s really proven there that ABS-CBN really abused the Filipino nation, why still renew it?)

“Kasi mahirap yung puro allegation lang tapos pagdating sa hearing nalaman natin na Santos pala itong ABS-CBN, hindi pala ito makasalanan…” the senator said.

(It is hard if we are just dealing with just allegations then during the hearing we will discover that ABS-CBN is a saint and not a sinner)

When asked how the President’s opinion would influence his decision, Dela Rosa reiterated that he would “live and die” and “sink and swim” with the President.

“Pero sa nakikita ko he’s doing it for the good of the majority of the Filipino people so pareho kami ng objective sa buhay. Kailangang ang gobyerno ang magru-rule dito sa ating bansa at ang sambayang Pilipino ay makikinabang. Yun ang kanyang objective sa buhay nya so ganun din ang objective ko,” he said.

(But from what I see, he’s doing it for the good of the majority of the Filipino people so we have the same objectives in life. The government should rule our country to the benefit of the Filipino nation. That’s his objective in life so that’s also my objective)

The senator meanwhile assured that he is not blindly following the President.

“No, I’m not blind. I have my own mind. It’s just so happened that our minds are synchronized, our minds are parallel, our minds are going in the same direction but I’m not blind. I’m using my mind.”

While admitting that he is now biased for the President, Dela Rosa said he would still be making his own decision later.

“Kelangang fair tayo sa lahat. Pero kung sabihin mo may bias ako ngayon, hindi ako plastic na magsabi sa inyo na wala akong bias. Ako ay totoong tao, sabi ko may bias ako towards my President,” he added.

(We need to be fair to everyone. But if you’d say I am biased now, I’m not plastic to say that I’m not biased. I’m true to myself, I say I am biased towards my President)

Edited by MUF

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