House committee had no time to prioritize ABS-CBN franchise —Rep. Albano

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises did not have enough time to prioritize the franchise of ABS-CBN, its vice chair Isabela 1st District Representative Antonio Albano said on Wednesday.

Albano told Dobol B sa News TV in an interview that lawmakers had been busy in the past few months that they did not have the time to set a schedule to discuss the franchise of the broadcasting company.

“Hindi ganu'n kadali mag-schedule ng hearing. Ang daming nangyayari in the past few months that we did not have the time to sit down to see whether we can calendar the ABS-CBN franchise,” he said.

Albano however said House leaders and the committee prioritize issues that need to be attended to urgently like matters connected to the Taal Volcano eruption, even if these are not included in the calendar.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and committee chair Representative Franz Alvarez tried to look at the said franchise issue but there were other bills that have been filed first, Albano said in a separate interview on ANC.

“Alangan naman laktawan namin ang mga nauna para sa ABS-CBN,” he added.

Albano noted that they also have to review pending petitions for the franchise legislation of other networks and radio stations.

“Even in the 17th Congress, this bill has already been filed. Pero kung gusto niyong mag-blame game, even the 17th Congress did not act on it because of so many pressing issues,” he said.

“It is unfair to call our committee of stonewalling. We need to follow our own rules and regulation,” he added.

ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire on March 30. The bills seeking its renewal have been pending in the House since August 2019.

Albano however pointed out that the broadcast company can still operate even if its legislative franchise has lapsed.

“Hindi naman porke't sa March 30 mag-lapse ang legislative franchise ng ABS-CBN, automatically they will cease to stop operations, dahil mayroon tayong sinasabing presumption of regularity,” he said.

As long as Congress does not deny its franchise, the broadcasting company can still operate. According to Albano, the presumption of regularity is commonly applied to those with pending petitions.

President Rodrigo Duterte had consistently threatened to revoke ABS-CBN's franchise, as he claimed the network did not air his paid political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is also at risk as Solicitor General Jose Calida filed before the Supreme Court on Monday a quo warranto petition for its forfeiture over “highly abusive practices.” —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News

https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/725770/house-committee-had-no-time-to-prioritize-abs-cbn-franchise-rep-albano/story/