Drilon urges House to act on ABS-CBN franchise renewal

By Vanne Terrazola

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Saturday called on the House of Representatives to act on the legislative franchise of media and entertainment conglomerate ABS-CBN.

Drilon, in an interview over DWIZ radio, said public interest dictates that congressmen should take up the long-languishing bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which will expire on March 30.

“Mayroon tayong tungkulin (We have a duty). Nakabinbin ang franchise application, March 30 ang deadline (The franchise application is pending, and the deadline is on March 30). It is in the public interest that it should be acted upon,” he said.

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday dismissed as “not that urgent” the discussions on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, saying the media giant may still operate until 2022.

He echoed Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano who earlier said that ABS-CBN could operate as long as bills extending or renewing its franchise are pending.

But Drilon, who was former Department of Justice (DOJ) secretary, maintained that a legislative franchise is needed for the company to continue doing business beyond March.

He recalled issuing an opinion, as DOJ chief, on June 20, 1991 stating that a certain radio station can continue to operate without a franchise from Congress.

“However, the Supreme Court (SC), in a case involving Associate Communications, said a franchise is needed [to continue operating],” he said in a  mix of English and Filipino.

“Kaya ang sinasabi ko ay dapat aktuhan na ito (That’s why I was saying that this should be acted upon). Kung hindi pwede, eh di hindi pwede (If the franchise renewal was denied, then they can no longer operate). Habang nakabinbin ito (Because as long as it is pending), ABS-CBN’s continued broadcast will always be questioned, lalo na kung (especially if) they will continue to operate on the basis of the provisional authority by the NTC (National Telecommunications Commission), na pwedeng i-withdraw anytime (which can be withdrawn anytime),” Drilon said.

Bills for the extension of ABS-CBN’s franchise have been pending at the House of Representatives since the 16th Congress.

The chamber is dominated by allies of President Duterte, who has repeatedly vowed to block the franchise grant for the network’s failure to air his 2016 campaign ad.

On Monday, Feb. 10, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the SC to revoke ABS-CBN’s franchise.

https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/15/drilon-urges-house-to-act-on-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/