MANILA (UPDATE) - Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza on Wednesday criticized the joint House committee hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise bid as a "fishing expedition," and called on House leaders to take better control of the proceedings.

"After 7 hearings, wala pa po silang napapatunayan. Humihingi sila ng records, meaning they are on a fishing expedition," he said, adding several government agencies have already addressed issues regarding the network's supposed violations.

Atienza made the remark after he was called out by Cavite 7th District Rep. Jesus Crispin Remulla for saying that Sagip party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta was "browbeating" the network.

Remulla moved to remove Atienza's remark from the records for being "unparliamentary" and supposedly demeaning Marcoleta's character.

However, Atienza clapped back at the Cavite lawmaker, saying Remulla was among those monopolizing the hearings.

"We are a 305-member Congress and this committee represents the Philippine Congress. Sana'y mapagbigay sila. Immediately magre-react siya ng ganiyan, eh nangangahulugan lang na tama po 'yung aking damdamin na itong hearing natin ay hindi po natin inilalagay sa tamang direksiyon," he said.

Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, later ruled in favor of Remulla.

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For Atienza, some lawmakers opposing the network's franchise renewal have recycled allegations, which have been addressed by concerned government agencies.

"Ang tanong sa akin sa labas, gano'n lang palagi. 'Kayo ba ay talagang desidido kayong huwag bigyan ng prangkisa?' Sabi ko, 'Bakit gano'n ang impression ninyo?' 'Eh napapanood po namin.' 'Yung paratang ng isa ay paulit-ulit na hindi binabago bagamat nagsasalita na ang awtoridad."

Atienza, whose son, Kim, is a talent of ABS-CBN, urged his colleagues to steer the hearings to a better direction. He said some lawmakers appeared to have prejudged the matter already, despite the lower chamber's promise of conducting a fair, impartial and comprehensive hearing.

"Ang hinihingi ko lang, take better control of the proceedings. This is not a committee of 1 congressman, 2 congressmen or 3 or 4. This is a committee of 305 members of Congress duly elected by the people," he said.

"Husgahan natin ang ABS-CBN on the basis of their contribution to national development and the protection of the rights of every citizen and public service," he added.

Atienza then asked his colleagues to put the matter to a vote in the plenary since they have already heard all arguments.

However, Palawan 1st District Rep. Franz "Chicoy" Alvarez, who chairs the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, took exception to Atienza's remark.

"I beg to disagree. Patas naman po. Lahat may chance magsalita. Kahit hindi miyembro ng committee ay hinahayaan kong magsalita," he said.

"Doon po sa inyong reklamo na kayo'y laging napapahuli sa listahan, siguro po mas maganda niyan kung meron kayong itatanong, mas maaga po kayong magpalista nang sa ganun malagay po kayo sa medyo taas," Alvarez added.

Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, echoed Alvarez' statement.

"Ipaalala po natin sa lahat na kung inyo pong nasubaybayan ang ating hearing, pinipilit po talaga nating maging patas ang ating hearing," he said.

"Sa sobra po nating patas, ang lahat ng sumobrang oras na kinonsumo ng mga nagtatanong ng anti sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN ay ibinigay naman natin sa mga kampi sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN," Sy-Alvarado added.

The next hearing is scheduled next Tuesday, with ABS-CBN given a deadline until Thursday to submit records on its labor issues.

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- With a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News