By Ben Rosario
Despite harboring a grudge against ABS-CBN network, President Duterte has not done anything to pressure Congress into denying the broadcast giant’s bid for a 25-year renewal of its legislative franchise.
Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano, vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, said the chief executive has apparently maintained a hands-off policy on the issue and observed respect for a co-equal branch of the government.
Albano made this observation in denying reports that he claimed Duterte had “directly pressured” congressmen against granting the franchise extension.
“The President has never interfered and does not intend to interfere in the business of Congress. He values separation of powers and has [too] much respect for us to do so,” explained Albano.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Albano admitted that members of the legislative franchise panel are feeling pressure from both sides in connection with the consideration of 11 legislative measures proposing a fresh legislative franchise for the embattled network and its sister companies.
A member of the administration-backed majority bloc in the Lower House, Albano said the House panel will give those who are for or against the bill a chance to present their positions.
“I also know very well that President Duterte values the right to have freedom of speech. And like him, I also believe that freedom of speech is not absolute!” he stressed.
Duterte has been critical of ABS-CBN, which he accused of political partisanship during the 2016 presidential elections that he won.
The chief executive claimed the network did not air his campaign commercials despite accepting payment.
Meanwhile, Magdalo party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan accused the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) of encroaching on the function of Congress to act on the broadcast franchise sought by ABS-CBN.
Cabochan said the OSG’s filing of a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court to stop ABS-CBN’s operations is an “overreach and encroachment” on the Congress bid to review and renew the congressional franchise.
“This just shows the rabid desire of the administration to shut down one of the institutions in the Philippine media industry,” said Cabochan in a statement. “We in the Magdalo party-list oppose this orchestrated attack of the Duterte administration on press freedom which is an important principle of democracy.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/13/duterte-not-meddling-in-congress-decision-on-abs-cbn-franchise/
Despite harboring a grudge against ABS-CBN network, President Duterte has not done anything to pressure Congress into denying the broadcast giant’s bid for a 25-year renewal of its legislative franchise.
Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano, vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, said the chief executive has apparently maintained a hands-off policy on the issue and observed respect for a co-equal branch of the government.
Albano made this observation in denying reports that he claimed Duterte had “directly pressured” congressmen against granting the franchise extension.
“The President has never interfered and does not intend to interfere in the business of Congress. He values separation of powers and has [too] much respect for us to do so,” explained Albano.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Albano admitted that members of the legislative franchise panel are feeling pressure from both sides in connection with the consideration of 11 legislative measures proposing a fresh legislative franchise for the embattled network and its sister companies.
A member of the administration-backed majority bloc in the Lower House, Albano said the House panel will give those who are for or against the bill a chance to present their positions.
“I also know very well that President Duterte values the right to have freedom of speech. And like him, I also believe that freedom of speech is not absolute!” he stressed.
Duterte has been critical of ABS-CBN, which he accused of political partisanship during the 2016 presidential elections that he won.
The chief executive claimed the network did not air his campaign commercials despite accepting payment.
Meanwhile, Magdalo party-list Rep. Manuel Cabochan accused the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) of encroaching on the function of Congress to act on the broadcast franchise sought by ABS-CBN.
Cabochan said the OSG’s filing of a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court to stop ABS-CBN’s operations is an “overreach and encroachment” on the Congress bid to review and renew the congressional franchise.
“This just shows the rabid desire of the administration to shut down one of the institutions in the Philippine media industry,” said Cabochan in a statement. “We in the Magdalo party-list oppose this orchestrated attack of the Duterte administration on press freedom which is an important principle of democracy.”
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/13/duterte-not-meddling-in-congress-decision-on-abs-cbn-franchise/
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