WE note that the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has decided to put off filing a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court (SC) to revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN.
The reason for this, according to a news report, were the supposed reservations of members of the Cabinet who want the network’s franchise renewal, the subject of pending legislation, resolved in Congress.
We welcome this news with cautious optimism but will remain vigilant against attempts by the OSG to revive its legal assault even as we continue our campaign to thwart Duterte’s continuing threat to shut down ABS-CBN and suppress critical media.
Should government succeed, a vital voice in Philippine media will be lost and thousands of our colleagues lose their jobs.
We are therefore putting our protest against the quo warranto on hold and will instead launch a petition demanding that Congress prove itself an independent and co-equal branch by repudiating Duterte’s vindictive assault on ABS-CBN and passing the bill to renew its franchise.
We call on Congress to do what is right and immediately pass the bill to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The quo warranto petition filed by the OSG before the SC for the revocation of the network’s franchise is proof that this government, in a supremely undemocratic act, is out to silence a media outfit because of the animosity of one man, the president of the Republic.
While we are dismayed at Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s brazen conflict of interest when he admitted having a personal beef with the network whose franchise the chamber he heads is supposed to deliberate on, we continue to hope that you, the elected representatives of the people, can rise above your leader’s petty vindictiveness and strike a blow in defense of freedom of the press and of expression.
At the very least, if the President is really hellbent on shutting down ABS-CBN, let him bear full responsibility by passing the bill renewing the network’s franchise and let him veto it if he dares to. Do not be accomplices in the rape of democracy.
https://ph.news.yahoo.com/tell-sunstar-call-renew-abs-150900541.html
Saturday, January 18, 2020
TIMELINE: Duterte against ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal
Leading TV network ABS-CBN has met repeated insults and threats from the President over its franchise renewal
With the clock ticking before its franchise expiration on March 30, leading TV network ABS-CBN depends on at least 9 bills filed with Congress seeking a renewal.
ABS-CBN's television broadcast arm would have to cease operations if the renewal is not granted on time. However, they may still be able to operate by distributing its content onto other media platforms, such as online and through the company's publishing and movie production arms.
Here’s what you need to know about the company’s years-long tussle with the government under President Rodrigo Duterte:
March 30, 1995
ABS-CBN’s franchise is approved through Republic Act No. 7966, with an expiration date on March 30, 2020.
May 5, 2016
During the 2016 elections campaign period, ABS-CBN airs an advertisement showing clips of Duterte cursing, uttering a controversial rape remark, and saying he is ready to kill. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV paid for this ad.
ABS-CBN later says that it was “duty-bound to air a legitimate ad.”
June 11, 2016
ABS-CBN says they applied for early renewal in 2014 through the normal legislative process. However, due to time constraints, ABS-CBN withdraws, opting to seek renewal in the 17th Congress.
“Claims that the franchise will not be extended are purely speculative,” ABS-CBN says in a statement.
November 10, 2016
Nueva Ecija Representative Micaela Violago files House Bill (HB) 4349 in the 17th Congress. The bill seeks to renew the franchise for another 25 years.
March 30, 2017
Duterte calls ABS-CBN and newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer “bastos (rude)” for allegedly reporting unfair news about him and writing in favor of the interests of the owners. He says that one day, “karma will come” to them.
He says the Inquirer is “bullshit” and that ABS-CBN “published trash.” Duterte calls the Prietos and Lopezes, the respective owners of the companies, “oligarchs and elites.”
In response, the Inquirer says it has “upheld the highest standards of excellence in journalism” since its founding in 1985.
March 31, 2017
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) calls out Duterte for lashing out against the media, saying it was a “brazen abuse of your immense power as chief executive of this land and only shows how little, if any, appreciation you have of democracy and governance.”
April 6, 2017
ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III says that the administration's anger triggered by the reports is “part and parcel” of the work of a media institution. ABS-CBN maintains that the company has observed “fair and balanced” reporting.
April 27, 2017
Duterte accuses ABS-CBN of “swindling,” claiming that the network did not show his political ads during the 2016 campaign although they were already paid for.
These comments come just a few days after Duterte renewed the franchise of GMA Network, ABS-CBN’s rival, for another 25 years.
Meanwhile, HB 4349 remains at the committee level. Duterte tells Congress, “No need to renew it.”
May 19, 2017
Duterte says he will file charges of “multiple syndicated estafa” against ABS-CBN, in a speech at an event launch of housing designs for the military and police.
“Kawalang hiya ninyo, kapal ng mukha ninyo, putang-ina ninyo, leche kayo (You have no shame, your faces are too thick, you sons of bitches),” he says, addressing ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III.
"Gabby Lopez, I paid ABS-CBN P2.8 million....You accepted my money, you never bothered to show my propaganda (political advertisements). After the elections, you didn't return the money," he adds.
He says other candidates such as his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano and vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero experienced the same.
August 3, 2018
The President repeats his threat to block ABS-CBN’s franchise in a speech at the inauguration of a drug rehabilitation facility in Bukidnon.
He challenges ABS-CBN executives to let him slap them if records show he has less than P40 million in his bank accounts.
June 12, 2019
The Philippine Star reports that the House of Representatives froze HB 4349. A lawmaker, who requested anonymity, says no action on any bill seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise would be taken as long as the network still has issues with the President.
ABS-CBN later says it is unable to comment on or clarify this report.
July 1, 2019
HB 4349 lapses after 17th Congress adjourns, but its same sponsor Representative Micaela Violago refiles the first bill in the 18th Congress to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise.
October 29, 2019
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano announces they are set to deliberate on the franchise renewal. At this point, there are at least 5 bills filed that seek to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
December 3, 2019
In a speech before new Malacañang officials, Duterte says he is still angry with ABS-CBN, telling the network, “If you expect that will be renewed, I’m sorry. I will see to it that you’re out.”
This is the third time Duterte reiterates this threat.
December 4, 2019
Cayetano says they will no longer tackle the franchise renewal bills for the remainder of 2019, saying there will be “more than enough time” for deliberations in 2020.
Although Cayetano said earlier he has a “personal complaint” against ABS-CBN for "unjust meddling" in the 2016 elections, he gave assurances there will be “fair” deliberation in the House.
House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr says the majority congressmen "might perhaps toe the line" with Duterte, which would make it “almost next to impossible” to renew the franchise.
December 30, 2019
Duterte tells ABS-CBN it would be better to “just sell” the network, remarking that Congress renewing the franchise is unlikely.
January 2, 2020
House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chair Franz Alvarez promises his committee would deliberate on the franchise renewal bills.
He tells ABS-CBN that securing a franchise from Congress is “not a right, but a privilege.”
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/249550-timeline-duterte-against-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
With the clock ticking before its franchise expiration on March 30, leading TV network ABS-CBN depends on at least 9 bills filed with Congress seeking a renewal.
ABS-CBN's television broadcast arm would have to cease operations if the renewal is not granted on time. However, they may still be able to operate by distributing its content onto other media platforms, such as online and through the company's publishing and movie production arms.
Here’s what you need to know about the company’s years-long tussle with the government under President Rodrigo Duterte:
March 30, 1995
ABS-CBN’s franchise is approved through Republic Act No. 7966, with an expiration date on March 30, 2020.
May 5, 2016
During the 2016 elections campaign period, ABS-CBN airs an advertisement showing clips of Duterte cursing, uttering a controversial rape remark, and saying he is ready to kill. Senator Antonio Trillanes IV paid for this ad.
ABS-CBN later says that it was “duty-bound to air a legitimate ad.”
June 11, 2016
ABS-CBN says they applied for early renewal in 2014 through the normal legislative process. However, due to time constraints, ABS-CBN withdraws, opting to seek renewal in the 17th Congress.
“Claims that the franchise will not be extended are purely speculative,” ABS-CBN says in a statement.
November 10, 2016
Nueva Ecija Representative Micaela Violago files House Bill (HB) 4349 in the 17th Congress. The bill seeks to renew the franchise for another 25 years.
March 30, 2017
Duterte calls ABS-CBN and newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer “bastos (rude)” for allegedly reporting unfair news about him and writing in favor of the interests of the owners. He says that one day, “karma will come” to them.
He says the Inquirer is “bullshit” and that ABS-CBN “published trash.” Duterte calls the Prietos and Lopezes, the respective owners of the companies, “oligarchs and elites.”
In response, the Inquirer says it has “upheld the highest standards of excellence in journalism” since its founding in 1985.
March 31, 2017
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) calls out Duterte for lashing out against the media, saying it was a “brazen abuse of your immense power as chief executive of this land and only shows how little, if any, appreciation you have of democracy and governance.”
April 6, 2017
ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III says that the administration's anger triggered by the reports is “part and parcel” of the work of a media institution. ABS-CBN maintains that the company has observed “fair and balanced” reporting.
April 27, 2017
Duterte accuses ABS-CBN of “swindling,” claiming that the network did not show his political ads during the 2016 campaign although they were already paid for.
These comments come just a few days after Duterte renewed the franchise of GMA Network, ABS-CBN’s rival, for another 25 years.
Meanwhile, HB 4349 remains at the committee level. Duterte tells Congress, “No need to renew it.”
May 19, 2017
Duterte says he will file charges of “multiple syndicated estafa” against ABS-CBN, in a speech at an event launch of housing designs for the military and police.
“Kawalang hiya ninyo, kapal ng mukha ninyo, putang-ina ninyo, leche kayo (You have no shame, your faces are too thick, you sons of bitches),” he says, addressing ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III.
"Gabby Lopez, I paid ABS-CBN P2.8 million....You accepted my money, you never bothered to show my propaganda (political advertisements). After the elections, you didn't return the money," he adds.
He says other candidates such as his running mate Alan Peter Cayetano and vice presidential candidate Francis Escudero experienced the same.
August 3, 2018
The President repeats his threat to block ABS-CBN’s franchise in a speech at the inauguration of a drug rehabilitation facility in Bukidnon.
He challenges ABS-CBN executives to let him slap them if records show he has less than P40 million in his bank accounts.
June 12, 2019
The Philippine Star reports that the House of Representatives froze HB 4349. A lawmaker, who requested anonymity, says no action on any bill seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise would be taken as long as the network still has issues with the President.
ABS-CBN later says it is unable to comment on or clarify this report.
July 1, 2019
HB 4349 lapses after 17th Congress adjourns, but its same sponsor Representative Micaela Violago refiles the first bill in the 18th Congress to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise.
October 29, 2019
House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano announces they are set to deliberate on the franchise renewal. At this point, there are at least 5 bills filed that seek to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
December 3, 2019
In a speech before new Malacañang officials, Duterte says he is still angry with ABS-CBN, telling the network, “If you expect that will be renewed, I’m sorry. I will see to it that you’re out.”
This is the third time Duterte reiterates this threat.
December 4, 2019
Cayetano says they will no longer tackle the franchise renewal bills for the remainder of 2019, saying there will be “more than enough time” for deliberations in 2020.
Although Cayetano said earlier he has a “personal complaint” against ABS-CBN for "unjust meddling" in the 2016 elections, he gave assurances there will be “fair” deliberation in the House.
House Minority Leader Bienvenido Abante Jr says the majority congressmen "might perhaps toe the line" with Duterte, which would make it “almost next to impossible” to renew the franchise.
December 30, 2019
Duterte tells ABS-CBN it would be better to “just sell” the network, remarking that Congress renewing the franchise is unlikely.
January 2, 2020
House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chair Franz Alvarez promises his committee would deliberate on the franchise renewal bills.
He tells ABS-CBN that securing a franchise from Congress is “not a right, but a privilege.”
https://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/249550-timeline-duterte-against-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed
THERE is no love lost between ABS-CBN, the country’s largest radio and television network, and me but I support measures seeking the renewal of its franchise.
The network’s franchise is set to expire on March 30.
Oh, yes, the network’s management has become hubristic, even abusive, but should that be reason enough for the Duterte administration to cancel its franchise?
If ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed, the country will become a pariah to the rest of the free world because the government would be projecting an image that it’s muzzling the media, albeit inadvertently.
I agree with the statement of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, that the ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed as a matter of right.
“Congress must uphold the Constitution to ensure press freedom,” said Rodriguez.
I beg to disagree with Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez who said the network’s franchise was a “matter of privilege and not a right.”
Alvarez, who heads the committee on legislative franchises, said the issue of press freedom was irrelevant to the discussions on whether to renew the network’s franchise.
“There is no attempt to muzzle or control the media here. So this is not a press freedom issue. We should be reminded that under the law, the grant of a franchise is not a right but a privilege,” Alvarez.
Granted that the grant of a franchise is not a right but a privilege, as Alvarez contends.
But the issue also boils down to press freedom since ABS-CBN is a harsh critic of the President.
The network is just performing an adversarial role towards the administration, which is the role of the entire media establishment vis-å-vis the government.
Now, if the network’s franchise is not renewed on account of it being a harsh critic of the administration then its constitutional right to free expression will be violated.
It’s common knowledge that the House of Representatives, which is deliberating on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, is dominated by allies of the Duterte administration.
Even if the voting is fair and square against the renewal of the franchise, still the suspicion can’t be removed that the network’s fate was doomed because it was not friendly with the Duterte government.
It reeks of vendetta.
Let it not be said that Rodrigo Roa Duterte is a vindictive president and, therefore, a pusillanimous soul.
Duterte is so unlike Cory Aquino and her son Noynoy who persecuted their political enemies; Cory persecuted the Marcoses and Noynoy his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Noynoy could not forget Gloria’s order to redistribute his family-owned Hacienda Luisita among the tenant-farmers, as provided for under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
I know the Digong up close and personal: he is magnanimous.
He readily forgave a billionaire tycoon whose company supported his rival for the mayoralty of Davao City after I interceded with him on behalf of the businessman.
Digong’s bluster against ABS-CBN is just venting for the raw deal he got from the network when it didn’t air his commercials during the 2016 presidential campaign even though they had already been paid for.
Let’s give Digong time for his anger to subside.
He knows that if ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed, he will go down in history as a vindictive despot like the Aquinos, purportedly devout Catholics, who would not forgive their enemies.
* * *
Digong’s beef with ABS-CBN does not just stem from the presidential campaign; it goes deeper.
The network’s owners, the Lopezes, are ingrates to Digong.
When the Lopezes applied for a permit to operate a cable network in Davao City, they asked then Mayor Rody Duterte how much it would take for them to be granted a permit.
The Lopezes thought Duterte would shake them down as other mayors did when they applied for permits for their cable network in other areas.
Instead, Digong granted them a permit without spending a single centavo “for the boys.”
The Lopezes should have borne in mind the favor that Digong had done for them when it was Digong’s time to seek their help when he ran for president.
The help did not mean a free ride on ABS-CBN as Digong and his supporters paid for the political ads in advance.
The Lopezes did not return the favor that Digong granted to them.
But Digong was not vindictive towards the Lopezes.
What did he do after he won the presidency?
He even appointed one of the Lopezes, Gina, secretary of environment and natural resources.
* * *
Digong will soon forgive ABS-CBN as I have forgiven the Philippine Daily Inquirer for easing me out as a columnist because I am a rabid Duterte ally.
The Inquirer’s purported reason was that I had become a government official on account of my appointment as special envoy to China for public diplomacy.
But the truth is the position of special envoy is just honorific, it does not carry remuneration.
The Inquirer’s hatred for Digong spilled over to me because I’m his close friend and supporter.
On at least three occasions during the presidential campaign, my column items about candidate Rodrigo Duterte were not published because I wrote glowingly about him.
As we all know, the Inquirer is a Yellow paper, Yellow in the sense that it was founded after the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., whose supporters adopted for their theme song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” during the anti-dictatorship protests that followed the assassination.
So, everything related to Ninoy — his wife Cory, son Noynoy abnoy kuyakoy and the principles of the Yellow Cult — is embraced by the paper.
It so happened that candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Digong’s rival for the presidency, was a Yellow.
The Inquirer saw red, no pun intended, when I supported Duterte against Roxas.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/18/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/abs-cbns-franchise-should-be-renewed/675248/
The network’s franchise is set to expire on March 30.
Oh, yes, the network’s management has become hubristic, even abusive, but should that be reason enough for the Duterte administration to cancel its franchise?
If ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed, the country will become a pariah to the rest of the free world because the government would be projecting an image that it’s muzzling the media, albeit inadvertently.
I agree with the statement of Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments, that the ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed as a matter of right.
“Congress must uphold the Constitution to ensure press freedom,” said Rodriguez.
I beg to disagree with Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez who said the network’s franchise was a “matter of privilege and not a right.”
Alvarez, who heads the committee on legislative franchises, said the issue of press freedom was irrelevant to the discussions on whether to renew the network’s franchise.
“There is no attempt to muzzle or control the media here. So this is not a press freedom issue. We should be reminded that under the law, the grant of a franchise is not a right but a privilege,” Alvarez.
Granted that the grant of a franchise is not a right but a privilege, as Alvarez contends.
But the issue also boils down to press freedom since ABS-CBN is a harsh critic of the President.
The network is just performing an adversarial role towards the administration, which is the role of the entire media establishment vis-å-vis the government.
Now, if the network’s franchise is not renewed on account of it being a harsh critic of the administration then its constitutional right to free expression will be violated.
It’s common knowledge that the House of Representatives, which is deliberating on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, is dominated by allies of the Duterte administration.
Even if the voting is fair and square against the renewal of the franchise, still the suspicion can’t be removed that the network’s fate was doomed because it was not friendly with the Duterte government.
It reeks of vendetta.
Let it not be said that Rodrigo Roa Duterte is a vindictive president and, therefore, a pusillanimous soul.
Duterte is so unlike Cory Aquino and her son Noynoy who persecuted their political enemies; Cory persecuted the Marcoses and Noynoy his predecessor, Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.
Noynoy could not forget Gloria’s order to redistribute his family-owned Hacienda Luisita among the tenant-farmers, as provided for under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law.
I know the Digong up close and personal: he is magnanimous.
He readily forgave a billionaire tycoon whose company supported his rival for the mayoralty of Davao City after I interceded with him on behalf of the businessman.
Digong’s bluster against ABS-CBN is just venting for the raw deal he got from the network when it didn’t air his commercials during the 2016 presidential campaign even though they had already been paid for.
Let’s give Digong time for his anger to subside.
He knows that if ABS-CBN’s franchise is not renewed, he will go down in history as a vindictive despot like the Aquinos, purportedly devout Catholics, who would not forgive their enemies.
* * *
Digong’s beef with ABS-CBN does not just stem from the presidential campaign; it goes deeper.
The network’s owners, the Lopezes, are ingrates to Digong.
When the Lopezes applied for a permit to operate a cable network in Davao City, they asked then Mayor Rody Duterte how much it would take for them to be granted a permit.
The Lopezes thought Duterte would shake them down as other mayors did when they applied for permits for their cable network in other areas.
Instead, Digong granted them a permit without spending a single centavo “for the boys.”
The Lopezes should have borne in mind the favor that Digong had done for them when it was Digong’s time to seek their help when he ran for president.
The help did not mean a free ride on ABS-CBN as Digong and his supporters paid for the political ads in advance.
The Lopezes did not return the favor that Digong granted to them.
But Digong was not vindictive towards the Lopezes.
What did he do after he won the presidency?
He even appointed one of the Lopezes, Gina, secretary of environment and natural resources.
* * *
Digong will soon forgive ABS-CBN as I have forgiven the Philippine Daily Inquirer for easing me out as a columnist because I am a rabid Duterte ally.
The Inquirer’s purported reason was that I had become a government official on account of my appointment as special envoy to China for public diplomacy.
But the truth is the position of special envoy is just honorific, it does not carry remuneration.
The Inquirer’s hatred for Digong spilled over to me because I’m his close friend and supporter.
On at least three occasions during the presidential campaign, my column items about candidate Rodrigo Duterte were not published because I wrote glowingly about him.
As we all know, the Inquirer is a Yellow paper, Yellow in the sense that it was founded after the assassination of Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr., whose supporters adopted for their theme song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree” during the anti-dictatorship protests that followed the assassination.
So, everything related to Ninoy — his wife Cory, son Noynoy abnoy kuyakoy and the principles of the Yellow Cult — is embraced by the paper.
It so happened that candidate Manuel “Mar” Roxas 2nd, Digong’s rival for the presidency, was a Yellow.
The Inquirer saw red, no pun intended, when I supported Duterte against Roxas.
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/01/18/opinion/columnists/topanalysis/abs-cbns-franchise-should-be-renewed/675248/