Solon says issue of ABS-CBN franchise a matter of press freedom

By Ben Rosario

Oppositionist Representative Edcel Lagman (LP, Albay) said Friday the renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corporation’s legislative franchise “inextricably involves the exercise of press freedom”, thus, distancing the legislative proposal from claims that it is an ordinary privilege solely reliant on the position of government.

Lagman aired this stand after Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, cautioned the network against entertaining the notion that the grant of legislative franchise is a right.

In a statement, Alvarez said everybody should be “reminded that under the law, the grant of a franchise is not a right but a privilege.”

“It is utter myopia to conveniently distance from the exercise of press freedom the issue on the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation which will soon expire on March 30, 2020,” retorted Lagman. “The question on renewal inextricably involves the exercise of press freedom.”

“The grant of a congressional franchise to a radio and/or television network does not reduce press freedom to an ordinary privilege subject to the unfettered discretion of the State,” the opposition leader added.

Lagman explained that a legislative franchise is required “for reasonable regulation” of the operation of a broadcast enterprise. “It was never intended to curtail the freedom of the press.”

“Verily, the jurisdiction of the Congress whether or not to grant a franchise or renew it is not isolated from the exercise of the constitutionally sacrosanct freedom of the press. Any arbitrary refusal to grant a franchise or renew it is an assault to press freedom,” the lawmaker said.

ABS-CBN has to win a franchise extension granted by Congress if it hopes to continue operating beyond the expiration of its existing congressional license on March 30.

Not a single committee hearing was called by the legislative franchise panel since the first bill proposing franchise extension was filed last July by Nueva Ecija Rep. Micaela Violago.

Since July, the number of legislative proposals filed has grown to nine with key House leaders counting among the authors.  Among them are Deputy Speakers Rosemarie “Baby” Arenas, Vilma Santos, Johnny Pimentel, and Aurelio Gonzales.

Alvarez has vowed to schedule a committee hearing on the bills as soon as the congressional sessions start on Jan. 20, or exactly two months before the Kapamilya network’s existing legislative franchise expires.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been vocal against the grant of franchise extension to the network, claiming that his administration has been victimized by the broadcast entity’s allegedly biased reporting.

“This is why we have to hear all sides, and find out if ABS-CBN violated the provisions of its franchise,” Alvarez said, in an apparent reaction to Duterte’s complaint.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the Lower House will treat the issue with utmost objectivity.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/01/03/solon-says-issue-of-abs-cbn-franchise-a-matter-of-press-freedom/