House to tackle ABS-CBN franchise within 2019 – Cayetano

By Charissa Luci-Atienza

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday assured that the House of Representatives would give due attention to the measures concerning freedom of the press, including the proposed renewal of the legislative franchise of broadcasting giant ABS-CBN Corp.

He said the measures seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years will be tackled within the year.

“Maybe before the end of the year, probably the hearings will start,” Cayetano told reporters.

“Definitely, we’ll have hearings because there are issues that have to be resolved,” he said.

Like any other hearings, he said, it is the obligation of Congress to be “fair” and “to bring out those real issues and to give the other side the opportunity to respond and determine who is right.”

“Kung mali yung naga-accuse sa issue then no problem, kung tama then ano resolution nun (If the accuser is wrong on the issue, then no problem. But if right, then what will be the resolution)?” he asked.

The franchise of the Lopez-owned broadcasting firm is set to expire on March 30, 2020.

Last year, President Duterte publicly declared that he would oppose the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise.

The President repeatedly launched tirades against the ABS-CBN, alleging that it refused to run his advertisement during the 2016 election campaign and for showing an ad critical of him.

Among the authors of the franchise bill are Deputy Speakers Vilma Santos and Baby Arenas, and Laguna Rep. Sol Aragones.

“There are issues with the media, but there are also challenges with social media… There are issues that we have to tackle first and foremost is the freedom of the press,” Cayetano said.

The House during the previous 17th Congress failed to act on the bill.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/10/29/house-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise-within-2019-cayetano/