ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez: I am a Filipino citizen ‘in thought, word, deed’

ABS-CBN News

<figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TqOgcF7pYqY?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><p>MANILA — ABS-CBN Corp chairman emeritus Eugenio &quot;Gabby&quot; Lopez III on Monday said he is a Filipino &quot;in thought, word and deed&quot; as lawmakers continued scrutinizing his citizenship during a hearing on the network&#x27;s fresh franchise. </p><p>Lopez said in the previous hearing that he was both a Filipino and US citizen because he was born in the US to parents who are both Filipinos. </p><p>He said he only lived in the US during the martial law years under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, and completed his college and postgraduate degrees there. </p><p>&quot;Other than that, I have lived my whole life in the Philippines... In thought, in word and deed, I am po a Filipino citizen,&quot; he said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/03/20/doj-abs-cbns-gabby-lopez-filipino-citizen-from-birth">DOJ: ABS-CBN&#x27;s Gabby Lopez Filipino citizen from birth</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/03/20/gabby-lopez-identified-as-filipino-in-corporate-records-sec">Gabby Lopez &#x27;identified&#x27; as Filipino in corporate records: SEC</a></li></ul><p>Lopez said he regularly paid &quot;all the taxes that are due in the Philippines.&quot; The US gets income tax from Lopez &quot;only after all the taxes in the Philippines is paid,&quot; he said. </p><p>The immigration bureau in Manila requires Lopez to bring both his US and Philippine passports when he travels, he said. </p><p>Lopez does not need a visa when he travels to Europe with a US passport and in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations with his Philippine passport. </p><p>This is the second time that Lopez faced lawmakers who are deliberating on several bills for a new 25-year franchise for ABS-CBN, which regulators forced off air last May 5, a day after its license expired. </p><p>The National Telecommunication Commission in March told lawmakers it would let the country&#x27;s top broadcaster operate provisionally beyond the May 4 expiration of its license, while bills for its franchise renewal were still pending in Congress. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/11/20/abscbn-franchise-renewal-ntc-provisional-authority-2022">NTC to allow ABS-CBN to operate until June 2022</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/05/04/20/timeline-will-abs-cbn-get-a-new-broadcast-franchise">TIMELINE: Will ABS-CBN get a new broadcast franchise?</a></li></ul><p>However, Calida warned NTC officials that they could face graft charges if they gave ABS-CBN a provisional permit.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/20/calida-pressed-ntc-to-issue-cease-and-desist-order-vs-abs-cbn-document-shows">Calida pressed NTC to issue cease and desist order vs ABS-CBN, document shows</a></li></ul><p>Watch a livestreaming of the hearing here: </p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1mHuVOul4nU?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/03/20/asserting-philippine-citizenship-gabby-lopez-says-committed-to-service-to-filipinos">Asserting Philippine citizenship, Gabby Lopez says &#x27;committed&#x27; to service to Filipinos</a></li></ul><div><em>News.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp. </em></div>

<p>ABS-CBN Corp. chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III on Monday said he is a Filipino "in thought, word and deed" as lawmakers continued scrutinizing his citizenship during a congressional hearing on the network's proposed fresh franchise. </p>

ABS-CBN Corp. chairman emeritus Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III on Monday said he is a Filipino "in thought, word and deed" as lawmakers continued scrutinizing his citizenship during a congressional hearing on the network's proposed fresh franchise.

ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez: I am a Filipino citizen ‘in thought, word, deed’ | ABS-CBN

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ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez: I am a Filipino citizen ‘in thought, word, deed’

ABS-CBN's Gabby Lopez: I am a Filipino citizen ‘in thought, word, deed’

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 08, 2020 03:00 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 08, 2020 03:07 PM PHT

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Gabby Lopez Filipino American

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