ABS-CBN franchise renewal remains uncertain, says Cayetano

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has admitted that the congressional franchise renewal of network giant ABS-CBN remains uncertain.

Cayetano made the remarks as Kapamilya network employees and artists took to social media to express concern over the impending closure of the network giant if Congress fails to approve its franchise renewal application, with only five months remaining before its current franchise under Republic Act No. 7966 finally lapses.

“So hindi naman ako makasagot sa inyo ng definite ngayon na definitely hindi, o definitely maibibigay,” said Cayetano in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Umagang Kay Ganda.

Around five measures were recently filed under the 18th Congress which seek to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.

Similar proposed legislations under the previous 17th Congress didn’t proposer since it was failed to tackle by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises under the Palawan Rep. Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez.

But Cayetano gave an assurance that the House of Representatives under his helm that they will exercise fairness in tackling their congressional franchise renewal even as President Duterte has opposed it.

Duterte has previously threatened to veto the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. He complained that the TV network did not air his campaign advertisement he paid for during the presidential campaign.

The network will have to cease operating as a broadcast network if Congress fails to act on a franchise extension before the expiration date set by RA 7966 by March 2020.

Under the 1987 Constitution, the application for franchise is done through a normal legislative process in both the Lower House and Senate and is still need to be signed by the President after its congressional approval.

Article 12 Section 11 of the present charter states that “Neither shall any such franchise or right be granted except under the condition that it shall be subject to amendment, alteration, or repeal by the Congress when the common good so requires.”

https://politics.com.ph/abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-remains-uncertain-says-cayetano/