Wednesday, January 6, 2021
Challenged Faith: Turn Toward God
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Psalm 61:2, KJV
Henrietta Mears, an outstanding Christian leader whose life inspired thousands of men and women, used to say that a college student who gave up his faith had not lost his or her faith. She contended that the person never had any faith to begin with. Life has a way of challenging the foundation of your faith, whether it is by circumstance or factors over which you have no control, and you cry, "Lord, I just can't handle this!" When your heart cries out in pain, there are some things you must do to undergo spiritual rehabilitation.
First, go to the Word of God and identify with men and women whose faith has been tested as yours has. Guideline #2: Refuse to relinquish what you know to be true. This is a matter of telling your emotions where to get off, and to hold on to certain facts which you know are true regardless of how you feel. Do not depend on your feelings to remind you of God's love when you are angered by the circumstances of life.
Now Guideline #3: When your faith is challenged, turn to the Lord but do not turn on the Lord. The preposition makes all the difference in the world. I have often thought of the words of David in Psalm 61, who cried out, "When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock which is higher than I!" When I cannot handle things, I cry out, "Lead me to the Rock, Christ Jesus, who can lift me up and plant my feet on solid rock."
When Stanley Collins was felled with a heart attack, he thought of the conferences where he was booked to speak, and the writing commitments which were before him. In his heart he cried out, "Lord, why me?" Back from the deep recesses of his heart came a small voice, "Why not you?" One of the things which causes many Christians‑‑ maybe you too‑‑to cry out, "Lord, I can't handle this!" is the mistaken idea that God has exempted us from the problems of life‑‑arthritis, colds, financial problems and personal problems‑‑so when they confront us we forget that He promised to walk with us even through the valley of the shadow of death. That is when we need to take that problem to the Lord and tell Him how we feel in no uncertain terms. It is your attitude that makes all the difference in the world.
In John, Chapter 11, there is a story of two sisters whose brother had died, and when Lazarus was placed in a tomb they both felt that Jesus had let them down. Four days later, Jesus showed up‑‑but too late (so they thought). When they saw Him, both sisters spoke the same words, but with a different attitude of the heart. They both said, "Lord, if only you had been here our brother would not have died!" When Martha spoke these words she spoke in defiance as she went out to meet the Master; but when Mary spoke them she fell at His feet and sobbed them from a broken heart.
When you fall at His feet and pour out your heart, it is then that you hear His voice and feel the touch of His hand. In many homes around the world are small figurines from Italy, reproductions of the Masters; but what most do not realize is that they are made of finely ground marble (dust reshaped into images of the originals). When life grinds you down and you cry out, "Lord, I just can't handle this," let the Master put the pieces together in His image. It is truly amazing what God can do with the broken pieces which you thought were worthless.
As the songwriter put it, "He made something beautiful of my life...."
Resource reading: Philippians 3
https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/challenged-faith-turn-toward-god-2/
Vilma Santos-Recto To Refile Bill Seeking New ABS-CBN Franchise
PHILIPPINE Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto on Monday, January 4, said that she will refile a bill seeking to give broadcast giant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.
“I am refiling the bill seeking for the renewal for another 25 years of the ABS-CBN franchise. I filed it the last time and I continue to believe that it is the right thing to do,” she told Inquirer.net in a text message.
Santos-Recto’s statement came after Philippine Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed Senate Bill No. 1967, which seeks to give ABS-CBN a fresh legislative franchise, citing the importance of television as the main source of information for most Filipinos.
“We need to start rebuilding our economy,” Santos-Recto said.
“Through this bill, we will be creating jobs (so many people do not have jobs today) and help promote healthy competition among the networks. Most importantly, di mapagkakaila ang (one cannot deny the) far reach ng ABS-CBN in the regions during calamities,” she added.
Santos-Recto expressed hope that the House Committee on Rules will “immediately act” on the counterpart measure of Sotto’s bill so that “it will hopefully be referred to the Committee on Legislative Franchises the soonest.”
Under the 1987 Constitution, private bills like the granting and renewal of franchises must first be approved by the House of Representatives before the Senate can tackle it in plenary.
According to Sotto, ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has a “better chance” now with the change of House officials.
“New (House) Speaker, new officers. (There) could be a better chance,” he told the Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Meanwhile, Santos-Recto said she is “hoping for the best.”
On July 10, 2020, the Philippine House of Representatives rejected the bills seeking to grant ABS-CBN a new 25-year franchise.
Voting 70 to 11, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted the recommendation of its technical working group to deny the network a new franchise.
Two congressmen inhibited while one abstained.
ABS-CBN stopped its operations on May 5, 2020 in compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC’s) cease and desist order due to the expiration of its congressional franchise.
The order directed ABS-CBN to shut down its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide “sent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law.”
Republic Act No. 7966, which granted the network a 25-year franchise to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations expired on May 4, 2020.
15 senators back Sotto’s franchise bill for ABS-CBN
At least 15 senators have already expressed support for the renewal of the ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said Wednesday.
The following lawmakers were included on the list of 15 co-authors of Senate Bill No. 1967, which was sent by Sotto to reporters:
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Senator Panfilo Lacson
Senator Sonny Angara
Senator Nancy Binay
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
Senator Richard Gordon
Senator Lito Lapid
Senator Manny Pacquiao
Senator Joel Villanueva
Senator Risa Hontiveros
Senator Francis Pangilinan
Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III
Senator Leila De Lima
The bill, authored by Sotto, seeks to give the broadcasting network another 25-year franchise.
Franchise bills, however, must originate from the House of Representatives before it can be tackled in the Senate.
Sotto said he is optimistic that this has better chances of passing as the House recently had a change in leadership.
The House committee on legislative franchises, during the speakership of Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter Cayetano, thumbed down the application of ABS-CBN for franchise renewal last year.
Cayetano was replaced by Marinduque Representative Lord Allan Velasco, another ally of President Rodrigo Duterte, last October.
"Nothing stops a congressman from filing a new franchise bill again" under the 18th Congress, according to Sotto.
Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza, meanwhile, said that the shorter route to reopen the House deliberations on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal is to move for the reconsideration of the denial of the network's application back in July last year.
Following Sotto's filing of an ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill in the Senate, Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto said she will file next week a fresh counterpart measure in the House.
However, Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor, who serves as vice chair of the franchise panel, said all the previous measures for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal must first be withdrawn before a new one may be filed and the deliberations may be reopened.
According to him, when the committee decided to deny the franchise application of ABS-CBN, the measures proposing it were simply "laid on the table" or set aside, and they have not been junked altogether.
At least 12 bills were filed at the House during the 18th Congress to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.
Drilon and Recto earlier said the House move will likely depend on Duterte's decision.
On the other hand, the Palace said only Congress can grant a franchise to a broadcast company.
ABS-CBN's franchise lapsed on May 4, 2020. It went off air the following day after the National Telecommunications Commission ordered the company to stop its broadcast operations. — RSJ, GMA News
16 of 24 senators pushing for ABS-CBN franchise
Two more senators are joining the call for the revival of the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN Corp., bringing the total number of supporters in the Senate to 16.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto released to media on Wednesday the list of 15 co-authors of his Senate Bill No. 1967.
The bill filed last Monday sought to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, which expired last May 4, 2020.
The list now includes Senators Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Leila de Lima, who has been jailed on drug charges.
Below is the list of 15 co-authors of Sotto’s bill:
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon
Senator Panfilo Lacson
Senator Sonny Angara
Senator Nancy Binay
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian
Senator Richard Gordon
Senator Lito Lapid
Senator Emmanuel Pacquiao
Senator Joel Villanueva
Senator Risa Hontiveros
Senator Francis Pangilinan
Senator Aqulino Pimentel III
Senator Leila de Lima
Eight of 24 senators are not signatories or co-authors of the measure. They are Senators Pia Cayetano, Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, Christopher “Bong” Go, Imee Marcos, Grace Poe, Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Francis Tolentino, and Cynthia Villar.
While she did not sign the bill, Poe earlier vowed to give “utmost priority” to the measure once referred to the Senate committee on public services, which she chairs.
“Given the crippling effects of the ABS-CBN shutdown and the need for more news outlets with the widest reach during the raging pandemic, the issue will be given utmost priority as soon as it is referred to the Committee on Public Service,” she said.
Under the Constitution, however, franchise bills must emanate from the House of Representatives.
“My support for a free and fair media in the name of public service remains. I will make sure that the Committee acts on it in due course,” Poe added. [ac]
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1380315/16-of-24-senators-pushing-for-abs-cbn-franchise
GMA allots P20 billion for 3-year capex, to launch new products
GMA is set to construct a new building at its compound in Quezon City, launch a new digital TV receiver, and expand its digital TV reach
GMA Network earmarked over P20 billion for capital expenditures from 2021 to 2023.
The Kapuso network said on Wednesday, January 6, that it will construct a new building at its compound in Quezon City mainly to house its content production operations.
This year, it is also set to launch a digital TV receiver called GMA Now, which will enable viewers to watch TV on the go for free.
The capex will also cover the continued expansion of its digital terrestrial television (DTT) reach in various regions.
"Surpassing 7 decades is no easy feat for our company especially during an exceptionally challenging year in 2020, but we are very proud of what we have achieved so far through our people's dedication and our commitment to serbisyong totoo (true service)," said GMA Network chairman and chief executive officer Felipe Gozon.
The network saw its earnings surge by 79% in the first 3 quarters of 2020, but primarily due to cost-cutting measures and the shutdown of its rival ABS-CBN.
It was able to dampen losses due to the launch of its DTT receiver called GMA Affordabox last June.
House leader says plenary can reverse ABS-CBN franchise denial
A leader of the House of Representatives said Wednesday that the plenary can reverse the denial of a franchise to ABS-CBN, especially under the leadership of Speaker Lord Allan Velasco.
“I believe it can be pulled out by the plenary now and reconsidered in the new leadership we have now,” House Deputy Speaker Lito Atienza told ANC’s “Headstart.” “Plenary overrules the committee and the plenary prevails.”
Atienza said that the vote of the House legislative franchises panel on July 10, 2020 denying the media giant a fresh 25-year franchise must be brought to plenary, where all House members may vote to ratify or reject the committee’s decision to kill the franchise of the network and the employment of its 11,000 workers, which came despite government agencies clearing ABS-CBN of any wrongdoing.
Aside from loss of jobs, the House franchises committee’s rejection of ABS-CBN’s application for a new franchise and the network’s shutdown also resulted in an information gap in far-flung areas which had only been reached by the media giant’s regional bureaus which also had to shutter.
All eyes on Velasco
The House leader’s expectations for ABS-CBN to get a franchise renewal this year largely hinges on his trust in the leadership of Velasco, whom he expects to allow lawmakers to debate and vote freely.
“I am just relying on the character of the new speaker. He’s not the type who would double cross and double talk and deal with everybody,” Atienza said.
Velasco, however, has been silent on the matter and has not given any indications whether he is keen on bringing the ABS-CBN franchise to plenary for further debates and a final vote.
Another House leader, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, who was on the forefront of the attack against ABS-CBN when the franchises panel took up its application, argued that the network first needs to go through major reforms before it is given a new franchise to operate.
The House is also still dominated by allies of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has vowed to see the end of ABS-CBN, which earned his ire for not airing his campaign advertisement and for supposedly taking sides during the 2016 presidential race.
Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III has filed a bill in the upper chamber to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise, but the Senate would still have to wait for the House to pass a bill granting the network a fresh franchise.
Sotto, too, is hoping that the election of Velasco and a new set of House leaders gives the franchise a better chance of being renewed.
Sen. Bong Revilla supports ABS-CBN franchise renewal
The returning Kapuso Sen. Revilla has expressed his support to the franchise renewal of ABS CBN.
Revilla expressed support to the franchise renewal during thanksgiving event for members of entertainment press in Quezon City on Tuesday, Jan. 5. Joining the senator was his wife Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado.
“From the very beginning naman, kahit na may sama ako ng loob sa kanila, supportive ako sa ABS-CBN franchise, at hanggang ngayon, iyon pa rin ang stand ko,” said Senator Bong.
The “Ang Panday” star also expressed his belief that ABS-CBN had already “paid” the consequences of their actions.
“Ilang buwan na ring walang trabaho iyong mga kababayan natin na nagtatrabaho sa showbiz. Saka kung meron man silang nasagasaan noon, siguro nag-suffer na rin sila diba?”
Now is the time to help the most affected with the network’s shutdown, said Bong.
“Ang importante ngayon, matulungan natin iyan, maibalik natin, mabigyan ng trabaho ang mga nawalan ng trabaho,” he said.
Revilla, 54, clarified that he had some bad-blood with ABS CBN’s News and Current Affairs team, not the Entertainment department.
According to the Senator, he has forgiven them.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/06/sen-bong-revilla-supports-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/
Move vs denial of ABS-CBN franchise 'shorter route' to revive network: solon
The filing of a motion for reconsideration against the denial of a fresh franchise for ABS-CBN Corp is the shorter route to revive the network, a lawmaker said Wednesday.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza made the remark after Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a bill seeking to give a fresh franchise to ABS-CBN while Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said she would do the same at the House of Representatives.
The "least" the House can do is to "react" to Sotto's bill and "resolve the issue" which remains in its agenda, Atienza said.
"That’s one mode of doing it. In my opinion, there’s a shorter route and that is to file a motion for reconsideration, the matter is still on the table. It was laid on the table at the committee level so technically under our rules, pwede sabihin ng plenary 'yung nakastandby d'yan na ABS bill. It appears on our agenda everyday, the ABS issue still on our agenda as an unfinished business," he told ANC's Headstart.
(It was laid on the table at the committee level so technically under our rules, the plenary can cite the ABS-CBN bill on standby.)
"Yun ang shorter route. Without filing a new bill we can take up what is on our agenda these past months and take it up fairly, allowing both sides to speak freely and make a decision on the plenary level."
Under the current House leadership, the plenary can have a "free debate" on the issue that is "not dictated or railroaded," Atienza said.
"I am just relying on the character of the new Speaker, he’s not the type to double-cross and double talk and deal with everybody with a sleight of hand," he said.
"The issue is still at rest at that level and I believe it can be pulled out by the plenary now and reconsider. In the new leadership that we have now I am also convinced we will have a free debate on the issue na hindi (that is not) dictated and hindi (not) railroaded."
Atienza maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte, who has many times threatened to shut down the network, was not involved in the chamber's denial of franchise to ABS-CBN in July.
"I still believe what Malacañang says, they have nothing to do with the decision, it was purely a Congressional action coming from (former) Speaker’s own position on the issue," he said,
"Until I've been told by the President myself 'you do that, this is what I want,' I will not believe those accusations. Those are made up issues to sugarcoat the questionable issue."
Congress has sole prerogative on ABS-CBN franchise revival plan
By Azer Parrocha, Philippine News Agency
Malacañang is leaving it to Congress to act on a proposed bill seeking to give a fresh franchise to broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III earlier filed Senate Bill 1967 to renew for another 25 years ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise, which a House of Representatives committee rejected in July 2020.
Several senators, including Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, have expressed support for the measure but he said it would pass “only with (the) Palace’s support.”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque disagreed with Recto, saying only Congress could act on the proposal to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise.
“Well, again, I beg to differ. That is a sole constitutional prerogative of Congress, which must originate from the House of Representatives,” Roque said.
On May 5 last year, ABS-CBN ceased its broadcast operations a day after the expiration of the network’s legislative franchise, following the National Telecommunications Commission’s cease and desist order.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on July 10 voted against ABS-CBN’s franchise bid for another 25 years in a 70-11 vote.
Currently, ABS-CBN continues its news and public affairs operations online and through “A2Z”, previously known as Zoe TV-11 or Zoe TV.
In filing Senate Bill 1967, Sotto cited a Social Weather Stations survey released in September 2020, saying TV remains to be the top source of news in the country.
“ABS-CBN is still the top choice of viewers in the Philippines as its viewers nationwide prefer to catch relevant news and inspiring TV series on ABS-CBN as the network registered an average audience share of 45 percent or 14 points higher than GMA’s 31 percent,” he said in the bill, citing ratings data from Kantar Media.
House Deputy Speaker and Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said she would also file a new bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Santos-Recto, a former actress, was among the 11 members of the House legislative franchises committee who voted in favor of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal in 2020.
Atienza: House plenary may overturn panel’s rejection of ABS-CBN bid to renew franchise
The House of Representatives may overrule the decision of the legislative franchises committee to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application, a House official said on Tuesday.
Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza, a deputy speaker, said the House plenary “has the supreme authority over all matters in Congress; it’s not the committee.”
“My point of view is that the plenary at this point will have the authority to recall the issue or even overrule the committee if it so desires,” he told reporters.
Atienza, who previously filed a bill for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, said “the whole Congress can take action to take over the issue and discuss it on the floor.”
“I would want to go back and rectify the fault of Congress, which I call a mistrial. There was a mistrial and there is every reason why we should open it up once again and allow Congress, the plenary, the body itself to decide on the issue,” he added.
Atienza called the House committee’s decision on July 10 last year “unfair, unjust and illegal.”
While the franchise application of ABS-CBN was killed under the former speaker, Atienza said the possibility of it being granted now was “highly probable” under Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, whom he described as “a fairer chairman or a leader” compared to Taguig City-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III also expressed a similar sentiment when he filed on Monday Senate Bill No. 1967, which would renew the media giant’s franchise.
Sotto said there “might be a better chance” now with Velasco at the helm of the House.
But under Article VI, Section 24 of the Constitution, private bills shall “originate exclusively in the House of Representatives.”
For Anakalusugan Rep. Mike Defensor, the vice chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, all bills for the renewal of the media giant’s franchise must be withdrawn first before new ones could be filed.
Defensor agreed with Atienza that previously denied ABS-CBN bills could be brought to the plenary.
“Was there an instance that the plenary reversed a committee report? Yes, there were instances where that happened as a precedent,” he said.
Media experts, however, remained cautious about the timing and intention of bills for the revival of the franchise of ABS-CBN.
Danilo Arao, associate professor at the College of Mass Communication College of the University of the Philippines, said it was possible that lawmakers were now laying the ground for their campaigns, especially with the 2022 elections fast approaching.
Echoing Arao’s sentiment, Nonoy Espina, chair of the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines, said he also suspected political posturing with President Duterte’s term coming to an end.
Palace: ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill up to Congress
Malacañang is leaving it up to Congress to decide on the new bill seeking to renew the franchise of television network ABS-CBN, which was forced to lay off thousands of workers after its franchise expired last May.
ABS-CBN, which had been accused by President Duterte of biased reporting, went off the air last May 5 following a cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission.
A House panel rejected a bill that would have granted the network a fresh 25-year franchise last July 10, a move widely seen as an attack on press freedom and an attempt to discourage critical reporting.
Last Monday, Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a new ABS-CBN franchise bill, but some senators said the passage of the measure would depend on the support from Malacañang.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. disagreed, saying the fate of the bill depends on lawmakers.
“Again, I beg to differ; that is a sole constitutional prerogative of Congress, which must originate from the House of Representatives,” Roque said at a press briefing.
Duterte had accused ABS-CBN of defaming him during the 2016 elections and not airing his campaign commercials even if he had already paid for their slots. During his fifth State of the Nation Address last July, the President claimed he was a “casualty” of the Lopezes, the family that owns ABS-CBN, in 2016.
ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak had apologized to Duterte, but denied that the network is pushing a political agenda.
Revival at House
The bid to renew the legislative franchise of broadcast network ABS-CBN Corp. is set to reopen at the House of Representatives.
Proponents of the measure to grant the network another 25-year franchise said they would refile the bill that was rejected by the legislative franchises committee in July last year.
Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto revealed that she would refile her bill seeking to grant ABS-CBN’s application for franchise, taking cue from the bill filed at the Senate earlier this week.
“Yes, I will. It’s the right thing to do,” Recto said in a text message.
Asked about the possibility of the measure getting approved this time under the new House leadership, she said she is “hoping for the best.”
Santos was one of the 11 members of the franchises committee who voted to grant the network’s renewal application, but they were outnumbered by 70 congressmen who voted to reject the application due to several violations.
A ranking congressman, however, said re-filing the ABS-CBN franchise bills might not be the proper remedy for proponents.
Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor, vice chair of the legislative franchise committee, explained that the bills were only “laid on the table” and remain pending.
“The bill is still there and was just laid on the table out of respect to the proponents. It was technically voted down, but it’s still there. So for me, the remedy should be filing of motion for reconsideration,” Defensor said in an interview through Zoom.
“If they want to refile the bill, then all authors would have to withdraw the bill,” he added.
Defensor also pointed out that the bill filed by Sotto could not move forward without a bill approved by and originating from the House.
Information gap
Sen. Nancy Binay expressed support for the effort to revive the franchise of ABS-CBN.
Binay said the absence of ABS-CBN is felt with the insufficient information in the media since last year when the country was hit by a series of typhoons and other calamities.
“Last year, when we were hit by a series of typhoons, many felt the lack of information, especially those in remote barangays and remote islands relying on news from radio and TV,” she said.
“We could have saved more lives if people were well-informed about the heavy rains and typhoons. Sad to say, the government and other networks fell short in bridging the information gap,” she added.
The senator said she shares her colleagues’ position at the Senate to support ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal because the people now need more true and correct news amid the issues of the pandemic and vaccinations.
“More than anime shows, we need a strong voice that can reach even the farthest household with news and information that matter,” she added.
Full support
A group of workers yesterday gave full support for Sotto’s proposal to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“This move of Sen. Sotto is a breath of fresh air over the continuing shutdown of the media giant that resulted in the lost of thousands of workers and employees of the Kapamilya network,” Defend Jobs Philippines official Christian Lloyd Magsoy said.
Magsoy added that the new franchise would bring hope not only to displaced ABS-CBN workers, but also to Filipinos who are longing for quality information, entertainment and public service.
He said lawmakers should rethink their earlier positions against the franchise renewal.
“Legislators must rebuild themselves and start voting according to their conscience and for the benefit of Filipino workers and people on the issue of ABS-CBN franchise renewal,” he added. – Edu Punay, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Mayen Jaymalin
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2021/01/06/2068484/palace-abc-cbn-franchise-renewal-congress
ABS-CBN franchise allies told: Pull out old bills before filing new bid
ANAKALUSUGAN party-list Rep. Michael Defensor yesterday said authors of measures seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. will have to withdraw their old and already-denied bills first before filing new ones and re-opening deliberations at the House of Representatives.
Defensor said the denied franchise bills are still under the “unfinished business” status even after 70 congressmen voted against granting the network a franchise to operate in July last year.
“So what’s the quickest solution if you want to start this again in the committee? All the original authors from Day One, all the 12 who authored franchise renewal bills, should all withdraw and a new franchise law should be filed,” Defensor told reporters in Filipino.
The lawmaker was among those who voted against the franchise renewal after the issues against ABS-CBN was jointly investigated by the committees on good government and public accountability and the committee on legislative franchises.
The House committee on legislative franchises adopted a recommendation of its technical working group to reject the bills seeking to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise, citing numerous violations of the terms of its old franchise which expired on May 4 last year.
Defensor, who was removed as chair of the committee on public accounts last month by the new House leadership as a consequence of his support for former speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, explained that while the matter was already put to a vote and denied in the committee level, it is considered “laid on the table” under the House rules.
“Again, it is part of parliamentary courtesy which means that it is not being deliberately killed,” he said. “It’s laid on the table but it’s technically voted down. But laid on the table means, the bill is still there, it was just set aside,” he added.
Defensor said this is why no one can file new franchise renewal bills because technically, there is still a pending bill, albeit already denied in the committee level.
Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos late Monday afternoon said she was already preparing to refile her bill renewing the radio and TV giant’s franchise under the leadership of new Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco.
The move was made after Senate President Vicente Sotto III sought the renewal of the franchise granted to radio and television giant ABS-CBN for another 25 years.
Sotto believes the bill will give the broadcasting network a better chance at getting back on air under the new leadership of the House of Representatives.