Shares of ABS-CBN climb to the P21 level on Thursday, February 20, though still very far from the P60 level before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte began in 2016
Shares of embattled media giant ABS-CBN soared by over 20% on Thursday, February 20, as investors find hope that its franchise would be renewed.
ABS-CBN was the top gainer at the local bourse on Thursday, closing at P21.80 from P18.10 apiece, even surging to as high as P22 intraday. This is also an improvement from its 52-week low of P14.80.
The network gained over P3.1 billion in market capitalization.
However, current share prices are still very far from the P60 level before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte began on June 30, 2016.
Philstocks analyst Japhet Tantiangco attributed the climb to the Senate moving to tackle the network's franchise issues.
"We can attribute this to the remarks of Senator Bong Go who is urging the Lower House to discuss the media firm's franchise case. There's also the possibility of a franchise extension by the National Telecommunications Commission," Tantiangco said.
The Senate public services committee will tackle the franchise renewal of media giant ABS-CBN on Monday, February 24, ahead of hearings at the House of Representatives.
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House is likely to delay hearings on ABS-CBN's franchise until May or August, even if the media network's franchise is already expiring on March 30.
The Philippine Stock Exchange index gained over 0.2% to 7,413 on Thursday. There were 90 gainers and 84 decliners, while 54 companies remain unchanged.
https://www.rappler.com/business/252304-abs-cbn-shares-surge-february-20-2020
Thursday, February 20, 2020
Pahayag ni ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, Pebrero 20, 2020
February 20, 2020 Statement
Carlo Katigbak
President & CEO
Mga kapamilya,
Isa po ako sa labing-isang libong empleyado ng ABS-CBN na nagpapasalamat sa pagkakataong makapaglingkod sa inyo.
Sa mga darating na araw, mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataong linawin ang mga isyu tungkol sa aming prangkisa. Wala po kaming nakikitang dahilan para hindi magtuloy ang paglilingkod ng ating ABS-CBN. Gayun pa man, kami ay handang sumunod sa anumang proseso na dapat pagdaanan ayon sa batas.
Sa nakaraang 65 years, naging tapat po kami sa aming misyon na maging In the Service of the Filipino. Sa lahat po ng aming pinaglilingkuran, isang karangalan po na kami'y naging bahagi ng inyong tahanan at ng inyong pamilya. Sana po ang aming mga programa ay nagbibigay ng impormasyon, saya, pag asa at inspirasyon sa inyo. Sana po nakatulong sa inyo ang mga serbisyo publiko ng ABS-CBN Foundation tulad ng Bantay Bata at Sagip Kapamilya.
Serbisyo po ang layunin ng ABS-CBN. Ngunit kami po ay hindi perpekto. Nagkakamali din po kami at handa po naming itama ang anumang pagkukulang. Kasama ito sa proseso ng pagiging isang mas matatag na kumpanya.
Sa aming mga mambabatas, nasa inyong kamay po ang kinabukasan ng ABS-CBN. Nagtitiwala po kami sa sinasabi ninyo na mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataong sagutin ang mga katanungan ng mga mamamayan. Dinarasal din namin na makita ninyo ang mga kabutihang naidulot ng ABS-CBN sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
Para sa mga kapwa ko empleyado sa ABS-CBN…mga Kapamilya, salamat sa inyong sipag at katapatan sa patuloy na pagbibigay serbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino. Alam ko po kung gaano kahirap magtrabaho habang kayo ay nagaalala sa inyong hanapbuhay at nangangamba sa kapakanan ng inyong mga pamilya. Asahan niyo po na gagawin namin lahat para matuloy ang serbisyo ng ABS-CBN.
Para sa napakadaming nagpahayag ng suporta sa ABS-CBN, maraming maraming salamat po. Ang mga pahayag ninyo ay nagbibigay sa amin ng tibay ng loob at lakas, lalong lalo na sa oras ng matinding pagsubok. Asahan niyo po na ipaglalaban namin ang pagkakataong ituloy ang serbisyo sa inyo.
Sa mga darating na araw, hinihingi po namin ang inyong panalangin na magtutuloy ang ating pagsasama. Sa ABS-CBN po, naniniwala kami na Family is Forever.
Maraming Salamat, Kapamilya.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/pahayag-ni-abs-cbn-president-and-ceo-carlo-katigbak-pebrero-20-2020
Carlo Katigbak
President & CEO
Mga kapamilya,
Isa po ako sa labing-isang libong empleyado ng ABS-CBN na nagpapasalamat sa pagkakataong makapaglingkod sa inyo.
Sa mga darating na araw, mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataong linawin ang mga isyu tungkol sa aming prangkisa. Wala po kaming nakikitang dahilan para hindi magtuloy ang paglilingkod ng ating ABS-CBN. Gayun pa man, kami ay handang sumunod sa anumang proseso na dapat pagdaanan ayon sa batas.
Sa nakaraang 65 years, naging tapat po kami sa aming misyon na maging In the Service of the Filipino. Sa lahat po ng aming pinaglilingkuran, isang karangalan po na kami'y naging bahagi ng inyong tahanan at ng inyong pamilya. Sana po ang aming mga programa ay nagbibigay ng impormasyon, saya, pag asa at inspirasyon sa inyo. Sana po nakatulong sa inyo ang mga serbisyo publiko ng ABS-CBN Foundation tulad ng Bantay Bata at Sagip Kapamilya.
Serbisyo po ang layunin ng ABS-CBN. Ngunit kami po ay hindi perpekto. Nagkakamali din po kami at handa po naming itama ang anumang pagkukulang. Kasama ito sa proseso ng pagiging isang mas matatag na kumpanya.
Sa aming mga mambabatas, nasa inyong kamay po ang kinabukasan ng ABS-CBN. Nagtitiwala po kami sa sinasabi ninyo na mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataong sagutin ang mga katanungan ng mga mamamayan. Dinarasal din namin na makita ninyo ang mga kabutihang naidulot ng ABS-CBN sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino.
Para sa mga kapwa ko empleyado sa ABS-CBN…mga Kapamilya, salamat sa inyong sipag at katapatan sa patuloy na pagbibigay serbisyo sa kapwa Pilipino. Alam ko po kung gaano kahirap magtrabaho habang kayo ay nagaalala sa inyong hanapbuhay at nangangamba sa kapakanan ng inyong mga pamilya. Asahan niyo po na gagawin namin lahat para matuloy ang serbisyo ng ABS-CBN.
Para sa napakadaming nagpahayag ng suporta sa ABS-CBN, maraming maraming salamat po. Ang mga pahayag ninyo ay nagbibigay sa amin ng tibay ng loob at lakas, lalong lalo na sa oras ng matinding pagsubok. Asahan niyo po na ipaglalaban namin ang pagkakataong ituloy ang serbisyo sa inyo.
Sa mga darating na araw, hinihingi po namin ang inyong panalangin na magtutuloy ang ating pagsasama. Sa ABS-CBN po, naniniwala kami na Family is Forever.
Maraming Salamat, Kapamilya.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/pahayag-ni-abs-cbn-president-and-ceo-carlo-katigbak-pebrero-20-2020
Palace: Letting ABS-CBN operate with expired franchise could be questioned in court
The practice of allowing a network to operate even after its franchise has expired is "questionable," Malacañang said Thursday, as it called on Congress to do its job in relation to the bills seeking the renewal of the franchise of television network ABS-CBN.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said problems may arise if somebody questions the practice before the court.
"According to them (lawmakers), there has been a practice of extending the franchise. But the legality of that would be questionable. If somebody questions that before the Supreme Court, there would be a problem," Panelo said at a press briefing.
"But what is important is, the president said, they should do something about it. Meaning to say, do their job. If there is a pending application before Congress, then members of Congress should deliberate on it and decide whether or not to grant or to deny the extension," he added.
The franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire on March 30. The Lopez-led network is facing an uncertain fate as the House of Representatives, which is dominated by allies of President Duterte, has yet to hold a hearing on bills renewing its franchise.
Duterte, who has accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and swindling, has vowed to see to it that the network would be "out." Officials, however, have claimed that the president does not interfere in the job of Congress and that his remark was just an expression of his "personal displeasure" with the network.
Earlier this month, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said ABS-CBN may still operate after March 30 as long as there are pending bills seeking to renew its franchise. Sotto has said the network's franchise would be "deemed extended" and would only be terminated if the 18th Congress adjourns in 2022 without passing a franchise renewal bill.
Sotto's view was not shared by some of his colleagues, including Senate Minority Franklin Drilon, who believes that ABS-CBN cannot be allowed to operate after the expiration of its franchise.
Panelo claimed Duterte has nothing to do with the inaction on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill.
"Because if you noticed commentaries tend to blame him for the impasse and he said, 'I don’t have anything to do with it. They should know my character by this time. I do not interfere with their work. Any utterance that I made before the public in relation to ABS-CBN is in connection with what I experienced with them during the elections. They cannot deny me of that,'" Panelo said.
"That issue is in the hands of Congress and he has nothing to do with it; do their work!"
Next move up to SolGen
Asked whether the government would question moves to allow ABS-CBN to operate after March 30, Panelo said it would be up to Solicitor General Jose Calida to decide on the matter.
"If he (Solicitor General) feels that there is any violation on any law, then he should do his job," Panelo said.
"I didn’t say there seems to be a violation. There is doubt of whether that is legal or not. Now, whether or not SolGen will initiate an action, you will have to ask him. That is his territory," he added.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court to revoke the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. saying the network was engaged in "highly abusive practices."
OSG has accused ABS-CBN of going beyond the scope of its franchise by broadcasting for a fee and of violating the constitution by allowing foreign investors to take part in the ownership of a Philippine media entity.
ABS-CBN has denied violating the law, saying all its broadcast offerings have received the necessary government and regulatory approvals and are not prohibited by its franchise.
The network has also claimed that ABS-CBN Holdings’ Philippine Deposit Receipts were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange prior to its public offering.
Journalists groups and human rights advocates have expressed support for ABS-CBN and have criticized the Duterte administration for allegedly trying to silence media outlets critical of the government.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/20/1994769/palace-letting-abs-cbn-operate-expired-franchise-could-be-questioned-court
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said problems may arise if somebody questions the practice before the court.
"According to them (lawmakers), there has been a practice of extending the franchise. But the legality of that would be questionable. If somebody questions that before the Supreme Court, there would be a problem," Panelo said at a press briefing.
"But what is important is, the president said, they should do something about it. Meaning to say, do their job. If there is a pending application before Congress, then members of Congress should deliberate on it and decide whether or not to grant or to deny the extension," he added.
The franchise of ABS-CBN is set to expire on March 30. The Lopez-led network is facing an uncertain fate as the House of Representatives, which is dominated by allies of President Duterte, has yet to hold a hearing on bills renewing its franchise.
Duterte, who has accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and swindling, has vowed to see to it that the network would be "out." Officials, however, have claimed that the president does not interfere in the job of Congress and that his remark was just an expression of his "personal displeasure" with the network.
Earlier this month, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said ABS-CBN may still operate after March 30 as long as there are pending bills seeking to renew its franchise. Sotto has said the network's franchise would be "deemed extended" and would only be terminated if the 18th Congress adjourns in 2022 without passing a franchise renewal bill.
Sotto's view was not shared by some of his colleagues, including Senate Minority Franklin Drilon, who believes that ABS-CBN cannot be allowed to operate after the expiration of its franchise.
Panelo claimed Duterte has nothing to do with the inaction on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal bill.
"Because if you noticed commentaries tend to blame him for the impasse and he said, 'I don’t have anything to do with it. They should know my character by this time. I do not interfere with their work. Any utterance that I made before the public in relation to ABS-CBN is in connection with what I experienced with them during the elections. They cannot deny me of that,'" Panelo said.
"That issue is in the hands of Congress and he has nothing to do with it; do their work!"
Next move up to SolGen
Asked whether the government would question moves to allow ABS-CBN to operate after March 30, Panelo said it would be up to Solicitor General Jose Calida to decide on the matter.
"If he (Solicitor General) feels that there is any violation on any law, then he should do his job," Panelo said.
"I didn’t say there seems to be a violation. There is doubt of whether that is legal or not. Now, whether or not SolGen will initiate an action, you will have to ask him. That is his territory," he added.
The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has asked the Supreme Court to revoke the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. saying the network was engaged in "highly abusive practices."
OSG has accused ABS-CBN of going beyond the scope of its franchise by broadcasting for a fee and of violating the constitution by allowing foreign investors to take part in the ownership of a Philippine media entity.
ABS-CBN has denied violating the law, saying all its broadcast offerings have received the necessary government and regulatory approvals and are not prohibited by its franchise.
The network has also claimed that ABS-CBN Holdings’ Philippine Deposit Receipts were evaluated and approved by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Philippine Stock Exchange prior to its public offering.
Journalists groups and human rights advocates have expressed support for ABS-CBN and have criticized the Duterte administration for allegedly trying to silence media outlets critical of the government.
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/20/1994769/palace-letting-abs-cbn-operate-expired-franchise-could-be-questioned-court
PRRD asks Congress to act on ABS-CBN franchise
President Rodrigo Duterte has urged Congress to “do something” about local media giant ABS-CBN’s franchise which is set to expire on March 30, Malacañang said on Thursday.
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte believed lawmakers should act on the pending bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN.
“What is important is the President said: ‘They should do something about it.’ Meaning to say, (they should) do their job. If there is a pending application before Congress, then members of Congress should deliberate on it and decide whether or not to grant or to deny the extension,” he said.
Panelo issued the statement after critics blamed Duterte for the supposed impasse in the deliberations of ABS-CBN’s franchise bills pending before the House of Representatives.
Duterte repeatedly took a jab at ABS-CBN for its supposed failure to air his campaign advertisements during the 2016 presidential race and its supposed biased reporting against his administration.
Panelo insisted that legislators, not Duterte, have the jurisdiction over the proposed measures that seek the extension of ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise for another 25 years.
“What is the job of Congress? The job of Congress is to pass laws. The job of Congress is to investigate in aid of legislation any matter that affects the national interest and their welfare. That’s their job. One of their jobs is precisely to deliberate on whether or not to grant franchises or renew franchises,” Panelo said.
Panelo, who also serves as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said ABS-CBN’s franchise is deemed expired, if Congress fails to approve before March 30 a measure that allows the local media giant to proceed with its broadcast operations.
His statement negated the claims of some lawmakers that ABS-CBN can still operate beyond March 30, pending the approval of the franchise bills.
Panelo said ABS-CBN's operations after March 30 could be questioned before the court, in case the extension of its franchise does not get the nod of Congress.
"If the expiration period comes, then it has expired. According to them, there has been a practice of extending the franchise, but the legality of that would be questioned. Somebody questioned that before the Supreme Court. May problema sila diyan (That would be a problem)," he said…
Around 11 bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise have been filed before the House of Representatives.
Congressmen, however, have yet to act on the franchise bills.
Panelo said Duterte’s grievances against ABS-CBN have no “chilling effect” on lawmakers.
He said several lawmakers would have not expressed support to the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, had Duterte’s rants influenced Congress.
“It means there is no effect at all. They know the President was making utterances in reference to his being a victim of fraud by the entity,” he said.
Panelo also emphasized that the Palace need not persuade Congress to do its job with regard to the fate of ABS-CBN.
“I don’t know what kind of bills will they tackle. But what we are saying is you know your duties. You don’t have to be prodded on to do your duties,” he said.
Last week, Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court (SC) to invalidate ABS-CBN’s franchise due to its supposed violation of the 1987 Constitution when it allowed foreign ownership of the media entity.
Under Section 11(1), Article 16 of the 1987 Constitution, only Filipino citizens or Philippine organizations are allowed to take part in the ownership and management of Philippine mass media.
On Tuesday, Calida also requested the SC to bar parties from issuing statements on the pending quo warranto plea against ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1094396
Speaking to Palace reporters, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte believed lawmakers should act on the pending bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN.
“What is important is the President said: ‘They should do something about it.’ Meaning to say, (they should) do their job. If there is a pending application before Congress, then members of Congress should deliberate on it and decide whether or not to grant or to deny the extension,” he said.
Panelo issued the statement after critics blamed Duterte for the supposed impasse in the deliberations of ABS-CBN’s franchise bills pending before the House of Representatives.
Duterte repeatedly took a jab at ABS-CBN for its supposed failure to air his campaign advertisements during the 2016 presidential race and its supposed biased reporting against his administration.
Panelo insisted that legislators, not Duterte, have the jurisdiction over the proposed measures that seek the extension of ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise for another 25 years.
“What is the job of Congress? The job of Congress is to pass laws. The job of Congress is to investigate in aid of legislation any matter that affects the national interest and their welfare. That’s their job. One of their jobs is precisely to deliberate on whether or not to grant franchises or renew franchises,” Panelo said.
Panelo, who also serves as the Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, said ABS-CBN’s franchise is deemed expired, if Congress fails to approve before March 30 a measure that allows the local media giant to proceed with its broadcast operations.
His statement negated the claims of some lawmakers that ABS-CBN can still operate beyond March 30, pending the approval of the franchise bills.
Panelo said ABS-CBN's operations after March 30 could be questioned before the court, in case the extension of its franchise does not get the nod of Congress.
"If the expiration period comes, then it has expired. According to them, there has been a practice of extending the franchise, but the legality of that would be questioned. Somebody questioned that before the Supreme Court. May problema sila diyan (That would be a problem)," he said…
Around 11 bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise have been filed before the House of Representatives.
Congressmen, however, have yet to act on the franchise bills.
Panelo said Duterte’s grievances against ABS-CBN have no “chilling effect” on lawmakers.
He said several lawmakers would have not expressed support to the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, had Duterte’s rants influenced Congress.
“It means there is no effect at all. They know the President was making utterances in reference to his being a victim of fraud by the entity,” he said.
Panelo also emphasized that the Palace need not persuade Congress to do its job with regard to the fate of ABS-CBN.
“I don’t know what kind of bills will they tackle. But what we are saying is you know your duties. You don’t have to be prodded on to do your duties,” he said.
Last week, Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court (SC) to invalidate ABS-CBN’s franchise due to its supposed violation of the 1987 Constitution when it allowed foreign ownership of the media entity.
Under Section 11(1), Article 16 of the 1987 Constitution, only Filipino citizens or Philippine organizations are allowed to take part in the ownership and management of Philippine mass media.
On Tuesday, Calida also requested the SC to bar parties from issuing statements on the pending quo warranto plea against ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1094396
NTC seeks DOJ opinion on ABS-CBN’s operation after franchise expires
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has already sought the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) legal opinion on whether ABS-CBN can continue to operate even after its franchise expires.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have received a letter from the NTC last Tuesday asking for advice.
“We got it (NTC letter) last Tuesday afternoon and we hope to reply by next week,” Guevarra said.
“The main question (asked by the NTC) is whether or not ABS-CBN may continue operating after the lapse of the franchise period, pending action by the Congress on the franchise renewal bills,” he added.
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire at the end of March.
But Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the best time to tackle the renewal of the television station’s franchise was either May or after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete also said the NTC’s request is currently being evaluated by their legal staff.
“The request is being evaluated. The legal staff evaluates requests for opinion,” said Perete.
It was Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who disclosed last Wednesday that the NTC sought the help of the DOJ.
Aside from waiting for Congress to act on the renewal of its franchise, the network is also facing a legal battle at the Supreme Court (SC). Named respondents were ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence.
(UPDATE) ABS-CBN's flagship VHF station DWWX-TV, channel 2 would secure a permit to operate by the NTC, while for the sign-on and sign-off sequences: announcement (without voice-over) in original form, new version of station message voiced by Peter Musngi with permit number, plus new Professional Electronics and Communications Engineers, Electronics and Communications Engineers and Technicians (PECE’s, ECE’s and ECT’s), First Class Radio-Telephone Operators and Second-Class Radio Telegraph Operator with license number and list of stations nationwide, followed by the Philippine National Anthem 1998 Centennial Version during the Presidency of Joseph Estrada, also known as the Estrada Administration (full, digitally remastered and restored version in 1080p HD widescreen and 4K UHD with end tagline with voiceover saying: “Ang watawat at pambansang awit ay sagisag ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Igalang natin at ipagpitagan ang mga ito” plus Philippine Centennial Logo and special thanks to) (replacing the 2013 Version produced by ABS-CBN) then a logo bumper (2014 version) and message saying “Ladies and gentlemen, in a few seconds, we will be on simultaneous satellite broadcast. Please stand by”, then a short patriotic message, teaser and station ID on sign-on.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1231499/ntc-seeks-doj-opinion-on-abs-cbns-operation-after-franchise-expires
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have received a letter from the NTC last Tuesday asking for advice.
“We got it (NTC letter) last Tuesday afternoon and we hope to reply by next week,” Guevarra said.
“The main question (asked by the NTC) is whether or not ABS-CBN may continue operating after the lapse of the franchise period, pending action by the Congress on the franchise renewal bills,” he added.
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire at the end of March.
But Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the best time to tackle the renewal of the television station’s franchise was either May or after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete also said the NTC’s request is currently being evaluated by their legal staff.
“The request is being evaluated. The legal staff evaluates requests for opinion,” said Perete.
It was Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who disclosed last Wednesday that the NTC sought the help of the DOJ.
Aside from waiting for Congress to act on the renewal of its franchise, the network is also facing a legal battle at the Supreme Court (SC). Named respondents were ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence.
(UPDATE) ABS-CBN's flagship VHF station DWWX-TV, channel 2 would secure a permit to operate by the NTC, while for the sign-on and sign-off sequences: announcement (without voice-over) in original form, new version of station message voiced by Peter Musngi with permit number, plus new Professional Electronics and Communications Engineers, Electronics and Communications Engineers and Technicians (PECE’s, ECE’s and ECT’s), First Class Radio-Telephone Operators and Second-Class Radio Telegraph Operator with license number and list of stations nationwide, followed by the Philippine National Anthem 1998 Centennial Version during the Presidency of Joseph Estrada, also known as the Estrada Administration (full, digitally remastered and restored version in 1080p HD widescreen and 4K UHD with end tagline with voiceover saying: “Ang watawat at pambansang awit ay sagisag ng ating pagka-Pilipino. Igalang natin at ipagpitagan ang mga ito” plus Philippine Centennial Logo and special thanks to) (replacing the 2013 Version produced by ABS-CBN) then a logo bumper (2014 version) and message saying “Ladies and gentlemen, in a few seconds, we will be on simultaneous satellite broadcast. Please stand by”, then a short patriotic message, teaser and station ID on sign-on.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1231499/ntc-seeks-doj-opinion-on-abs-cbns-operation-after-franchise-expires
'Do your job,’ Palace tells Congress on ABS-CBN franchise renewal
Members of Congress should “do their job” in relation to pending bills for the renewal of broadcast network ABS-CBN’s franchise, Malacañang said Thursday.
It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate on whether or not to grant or renew franchises, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said as he again distanced President Rodrigo Duterte from the issue surrounding ABS-CBN's franchise.
“As far as he (Duterte) is concerned, that issue is in the hands of Congress and he has nothing to do with it. Do their work,” Panelo told reporters in Malacañang.
Duterte also has this message to lawmakers, Panelo said: “You know your duties, you do not have to be prodded on to do your duties.”
Duterte has repeatedly said he would oppose ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, complaining of the network's supposed failure to air a paid campaign ad before the 2016 presidential elections.
Analysts have said that Duterte’s threats influenced lawmakers, who have yet to act on pending bills seeking a renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise set to expire on March 30.
Still, Panelo said the President does not wish the network to shut down.
Despite this, the government’s top lawyer still sought to invalidate the network’s license to operate before the Supreme Court over alleged “abuses” the company committed in relation to its franchise.
ABS-CBN, however, denied the allegations, saying it “did not violate the law.”
Last week, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the urgency of holding congressional hearings on ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise as he argued that doing so "will suck all the energy of the 18th Congress."
"Hindi [ito] ganoon ka-urgent. Bakit? Kasi hanggang March 2022, pwedeng mag-operate," he added.
(This is not that urgent. Why? Because ABS-CBN can operate until March 2022.)
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House franchise committee vice chair Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano also said the broadcast giant can operate until December 31, 2022 as long as there is a pending bill for its license renewal.
The network secured a 25-year franchise under Republic Act 7966, which was enacted on March 30, 1995.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/do-your-job-palace-tells-congress-on-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
It is the responsibility of Congress to deliberate on whether or not to grant or renew franchises, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said as he again distanced President Rodrigo Duterte from the issue surrounding ABS-CBN's franchise.
“As far as he (Duterte) is concerned, that issue is in the hands of Congress and he has nothing to do with it. Do their work,” Panelo told reporters in Malacañang.
Duterte also has this message to lawmakers, Panelo said: “You know your duties, you do not have to be prodded on to do your duties.”
Duterte has repeatedly said he would oppose ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, complaining of the network's supposed failure to air a paid campaign ad before the 2016 presidential elections.
Analysts have said that Duterte’s threats influenced lawmakers, who have yet to act on pending bills seeking a renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise set to expire on March 30.
Still, Panelo said the President does not wish the network to shut down.
Despite this, the government’s top lawyer still sought to invalidate the network’s license to operate before the Supreme Court over alleged “abuses” the company committed in relation to its franchise.
ABS-CBN, however, denied the allegations, saying it “did not violate the law.”
Last week, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano questioned the urgency of holding congressional hearings on ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise as he argued that doing so "will suck all the energy of the 18th Congress."
"Hindi [ito] ganoon ka-urgent. Bakit? Kasi hanggang March 2022, pwedeng mag-operate," he added.
(This is not that urgent. Why? Because ABS-CBN can operate until March 2022.)
Senate President Vicente Sotto III and House franchise committee vice chair Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano also said the broadcast giant can operate until December 31, 2022 as long as there is a pending bill for its license renewal.
The network secured a 25-year franchise under Republic Act 7966, which was enacted on March 30, 1995.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/do-your-job-palace-tells-congress-on-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
Justice dept's opinion on ABS-CBN franchise extension out next week
Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra said Thursday his agency will release next week an opinion on whether regulators should extend the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. if lawmakers fail to pass a law for it before the expiration of the company's current franchise.
The justice department is "studying" the National Telecommunications Commission's request for a legal opinion on the matter, Guevarra said.
"We got the request last Tuesday... We'll reply by next week," he told ABS-CBN in a text message.
The NTC in several instances had issued provisional licenses to operate for networks whose franchises were still being heard in Congress, Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, a longtime aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, said earlier.
Duterte has repeatedly threatened to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise after the expiry of its current broadcast license on March 30, accusing the company of failing to air his campaign ads for the 2016 elections.
Last week, Solicitor General Jose Calida initiated a move to invalidate the current franchise of ABS-CBN by filing a quo warranto petition at the Supreme Court over alleged violations by the network in the terms of its franchise and of the foreign ownership regulation.
ABS-CBN said it did not violate any law in its 65 years of service. Report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/justice-depts-opinion-on-abs-cbn-franchise-extension-out-next-week
The justice department is "studying" the National Telecommunications Commission's request for a legal opinion on the matter, Guevarra said.
"We got the request last Tuesday... We'll reply by next week," he told ABS-CBN in a text message.
The NTC in several instances had issued provisional licenses to operate for networks whose franchises were still being heard in Congress, Sen. Christopher "Bong" Go, a longtime aide of President Rodrigo Duterte, said earlier.
Duterte has repeatedly threatened to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise after the expiry of its current broadcast license on March 30, accusing the company of failing to air his campaign ads for the 2016 elections.
Last week, Solicitor General Jose Calida initiated a move to invalidate the current franchise of ABS-CBN by filing a quo warranto petition at the Supreme Court over alleged violations by the network in the terms of its franchise and of the foreign ownership regulation.
ABS-CBN said it did not violate any law in its 65 years of service. Report from Johnson Manabat, ABS-CBN News
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/justice-depts-opinion-on-abs-cbn-franchise-extension-out-next-week
NTC seeks DOJ opinion on ABS-CBN franchise
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has sought the Department of Justice's (DOJ) advice on whether or not ABS-CBN can continue operating if its franchise expires before Congress could act on bills for its renewal.
The DOJ received the NTC's request for a legal opinion last Tuesday afternoon and hopes to reply by next week, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.
"The main question is whether or not ABS-CBN may continue operating after the lapse of the franchise period, pending action by the Congress on the franchise renewal bills," he said in a message to reporters.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the department's legal staff are evaluating the NTC's request.
The broadcast network's legislative franchise will expire on March 30.
Calling the matter "not that urgent," Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House of Representatives would discuss it "possibly in May if we have cooler heads."
He said the company may operate until 2022 even if its license lapses next month.
The broadcast network has around 11,000 employees.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to forfeit ABS-CBN's franchise over what he called the company's "highly abusive practices," such as operating a pay-per-view channel on free-to-air signals and issuing Philippine Depositary Receipts to foreigners.
The SC has ordered ABS-CBN to comment on the petition for quo warranto, the same action Calida initiated against then-chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. She was ousted in 2018 in a manner that critics of the landmark ruling called unconstitutional.
Calida has also asked the SC to issue a gag order on all the parties in the quo warranto case, alleging ABS-CBN “engaged in propaganda" in its reports and "commentaries" following the filing of the petition.
The SC has also asked ABS-CBN to comment on the motion for a gag order. — BM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/726677/ntc-seeks-doj-opinion-on-abs-cbn-franchise/story/
The DOJ received the NTC's request for a legal opinion last Tuesday afternoon and hopes to reply by next week, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said Thursday.
"The main question is whether or not ABS-CBN may continue operating after the lapse of the franchise period, pending action by the Congress on the franchise renewal bills," he said in a message to reporters.
Justice Undersecretary Markk Perete said the department's legal staff are evaluating the NTC's request.
The broadcast network's legislative franchise will expire on March 30.
Calling the matter "not that urgent," Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House of Representatives would discuss it "possibly in May if we have cooler heads."
He said the company may operate until 2022 even if its license lapses next month.
The broadcast network has around 11,000 employees.
Meanwhile, Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to forfeit ABS-CBN's franchise over what he called the company's "highly abusive practices," such as operating a pay-per-view channel on free-to-air signals and issuing Philippine Depositary Receipts to foreigners.
The SC has ordered ABS-CBN to comment on the petition for quo warranto, the same action Calida initiated against then-chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. She was ousted in 2018 in a manner that critics of the landmark ruling called unconstitutional.
Calida has also asked the SC to issue a gag order on all the parties in the quo warranto case, alleging ABS-CBN “engaged in propaganda" in its reports and "commentaries" following the filing of the petition.
The SC has also asked ABS-CBN to comment on the motion for a gag order. — BM, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/726677/ntc-seeks-doj-opinion-on-abs-cbn-franchise/story/
Carlo Aquino can’t imagine life without ABS-CBN
As one of ABS-CBN’s homegrown artists, Carlo Aquino is hoping things would go in favor of the network concerning its franchise renewal.
Speaking to ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, Aquino said he couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Congress would not allow the broadcast giant to operate.
“Hindi ko ma-imagine na walang ABS-CBN. Ito na 'yung kinalakihan ko. Dito talaga ako [tumanda]. Grabe, nagsimula ako, 9 years old. Ngayon I am 34. Dito ako natuto umarte, dito ako natuto kumanta. Sila ang nag-hone ng skills ko. 'Yun ang gagawin nila sa mga susunod na generations,” he said.
According to Aquino, he is urging his supporters to voice out what ABS-CBN means to them.
“Siyempre sila ang makakatulong sa atin, 'yung mga naniniwala na ang laki ng naitulong ng ABS-CBN sa kanila. Siyempre 'yung mga OFW natin, 'yung mga TFC subscribers,” he said.
Nonetheless, Aquino is certain that no matter what happens, ABS-CBN will remain in the service of the Filipino.
“Kasi para sa akin, with or without a franchise, ABS-CBN will continue to serve the Filipino. 'Yun na ang ginagawa nila for over 60 years. Pero naniniwala pa rin ako at pinagdadasal ko na hindi mangyayari [na mawalan ng franchise],” he said.
Meanwhile, Aquino feels fortunate to still enjoy the network’s trust.
Along with other artists, Aquino renewed his contract with ABS-CBN, which will cover two more years.
“Hindi naman nila binibigay 'yung ganyang contract basta basta. Sobrang 'yung thankfulness ko, talagang over the top. Paghuhusayan ko pa,” he said.
Aquino, who is currently seen in the primetime series “A Soldier’s Heart,” is expected to do three movies in the next two years.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/20/20/carlo-aquino-cant-imagine-life-without-abs-cbn
Speaking to ABS-CBN News on Wednesday, Aquino said he couldn’t imagine what it would be like if Congress would not allow the broadcast giant to operate.
“Hindi ko ma-imagine na walang ABS-CBN. Ito na 'yung kinalakihan ko. Dito talaga ako [tumanda]. Grabe, nagsimula ako, 9 years old. Ngayon I am 34. Dito ako natuto umarte, dito ako natuto kumanta. Sila ang nag-hone ng skills ko. 'Yun ang gagawin nila sa mga susunod na generations,” he said.
According to Aquino, he is urging his supporters to voice out what ABS-CBN means to them.
“Siyempre sila ang makakatulong sa atin, 'yung mga naniniwala na ang laki ng naitulong ng ABS-CBN sa kanila. Siyempre 'yung mga OFW natin, 'yung mga TFC subscribers,” he said.
Nonetheless, Aquino is certain that no matter what happens, ABS-CBN will remain in the service of the Filipino.
“Kasi para sa akin, with or without a franchise, ABS-CBN will continue to serve the Filipino. 'Yun na ang ginagawa nila for over 60 years. Pero naniniwala pa rin ako at pinagdadasal ko na hindi mangyayari [na mawalan ng franchise],” he said.
Meanwhile, Aquino feels fortunate to still enjoy the network’s trust.
Along with other artists, Aquino renewed his contract with ABS-CBN, which will cover two more years.
“Hindi naman nila binibigay 'yung ganyang contract basta basta. Sobrang 'yung thankfulness ko, talagang over the top. Paghuhusayan ko pa,” he said.
Aquino, who is currently seen in the primetime series “A Soldier’s Heart,” is expected to do three movies in the next two years.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/20/20/carlo-aquino-cant-imagine-life-without-abs-cbn
ABS-CBN needs a law to extend its franchise—Palace
The Palace on Wednesday said lawmakers should pass a law extending the validity of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which expires on March 30, if they are really inclined to renew it.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said this would enable the broadcast giant to continue operating until its new franchise is granted.
Earlier, Rep. Antonio Albano, vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, said that in practice, ABS-CBN may be allowed to operate while Congress debates bills to extend its franchise.
But Panelo said a simpler way was to simply pass a new law to extend its validity.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin previously said that the franchise of GMA Network, another broadcast company, expired on March 20, 2017, but it continued to operate with its authority renewed through a law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 21, 2017.
Garbin also said the franchise of the 29 radio stations of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expired in 2017 but they continued to operate even if the franchise was only renewed by the Congress in 2019.
Under Republic Act 3846, radio and television stations are required to seek a franchise from Congress.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through Republic Act 7966 on March 30, 1995.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday said House members should act immediately on bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
He said the lawmakers should vote according to their conscience and assured the public that President Duterte would not pressure them to vote one way or the other.
Go, a constant companion of the President, said Duterte was not being vindictive when he publicly declared that he would block the renewal of the network’s franchise.
He said Duterte merely expressed displeasure over ABS-CBN’s failure to air his political advertisement when he was running for president in 2016.
Go would not say, however, if he would support an extension to ABS-CBN’s franchise.
On the other hand, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he is in favor of the extension, saying none of the complaints against the network were “fatally defective.”
“I’ll put it this way. Here in the Senate, I think all of us got hit by ABS-CBN. Nobody here… was spared, but I don’t think that’s fatally defective on their franchise, or for any other media network. That’s your job. You’re the fourth estate,” Recto said.
The Senate public services committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe is set to hear the ABS-CBN’s franchise extension on Feb. 24.
In related developments:
• The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday said ABS-CBN has no outstanding tax liabilities, contrary to allegations being circulated online.
• A militant labor organization on Wednesday said shutting down the operations of ABS-CBN will not solve the network’s labor issues and will only place its 11,000 workers’ jobs in peril. Defend Jobs Philippines said it would be moot and academic to talk about issues of regularization, wages, benefits, and safe workplaces if the company’s franchise is not renewed.
• The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Wednesday urged the public to trust that the Supreme Court to render a fair judgment in the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who wants the justices to nullify the network’s franchise because of alleged violations of constitutional limits to foreign ownership of media.
https://manilastandard.net/index.php/news/top-stories/317762/abs-cbn-needs-a-law-to-extend-its-franchise-palace.html
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said this would enable the broadcast giant to continue operating until its new franchise is granted.
Earlier, Rep. Antonio Albano, vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, said that in practice, ABS-CBN may be allowed to operate while Congress debates bills to extend its franchise.
But Panelo said a simpler way was to simply pass a new law to extend its validity.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin previously said that the franchise of GMA Network, another broadcast company, expired on March 20, 2017, but it continued to operate with its authority renewed through a law signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 21, 2017.
Garbin also said the franchise of the 29 radio stations of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines expired in 2017 but they continued to operate even if the franchise was only renewed by the Congress in 2019.
Under Republic Act 3846, radio and television stations are required to seek a franchise from Congress.
ABS-CBN’s current franchise was approved through Republic Act 7966 on March 30, 1995.
Senator Christopher “Bong” Go on Wednesday said House members should act immediately on bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
He said the lawmakers should vote according to their conscience and assured the public that President Duterte would not pressure them to vote one way or the other.
Go, a constant companion of the President, said Duterte was not being vindictive when he publicly declared that he would block the renewal of the network’s franchise.
He said Duterte merely expressed displeasure over ABS-CBN’s failure to air his political advertisement when he was running for president in 2016.
Go would not say, however, if he would support an extension to ABS-CBN’s franchise.
On the other hand, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he is in favor of the extension, saying none of the complaints against the network were “fatally defective.”
“I’ll put it this way. Here in the Senate, I think all of us got hit by ABS-CBN. Nobody here… was spared, but I don’t think that’s fatally defective on their franchise, or for any other media network. That’s your job. You’re the fourth estate,” Recto said.
The Senate public services committee chaired by Senator Grace Poe is set to hear the ABS-CBN’s franchise extension on Feb. 24.
In related developments:
• The Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) on Tuesday said ABS-CBN has no outstanding tax liabilities, contrary to allegations being circulated online.
• A militant labor organization on Wednesday said shutting down the operations of ABS-CBN will not solve the network’s labor issues and will only place its 11,000 workers’ jobs in peril. Defend Jobs Philippines said it would be moot and academic to talk about issues of regularization, wages, benefits, and safe workplaces if the company’s franchise is not renewed.
• The Integrated Bar of the Philippines on Wednesday urged the public to trust that the Supreme Court to render a fair judgment in the quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida, who wants the justices to nullify the network’s franchise because of alleged violations of constitutional limits to foreign ownership of media.
https://manilastandard.net/index.php/news/top-stories/317762/abs-cbn-needs-a-law-to-extend-its-franchise-palace.html
Full-house Senate attendance expected in ABS-CBN franchise hearing
The Senate deferred its afternoon plenary session for Monday, Feb. 24, to give way to the ABS-CBN franchise renewal hearing where majority of senators are expected to attend, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said.
Before adjourning Wednesday’s Senate session, Zubiri said “very important” hearings would be conducted on Monday next week, one of which would make use of the session hall as its venue.
“So to allow our colleagues to utilize all our rooms on Monday for very important hearings, particularly the Session hall, we move to adjourn session until the 26th February, Wednesday three o’clock in the afternoon,” Zubiri said.
He noted that approval of all the senators had been sought about the matter.
“The Senate is a collegial body. We make a collective decision and that was the decision we arrived at in the mini caucus,” he said in an interview.
The session will resume on Wednesday next week, Feb. 26, since Feb. 25, the EDSA People Power anniversary, is a declared national holiday, Zubiri said.
‘Full house’
According to Zubiri, the majority of the senators expressed intent to join the hearing, which will be led by Sen. Grace Poe, public services committee chair.
“About 80 percent of senators have signified that they will be attending so we are expecting a full house in terms of the membership of the Senate to attend and question resource persons,” Zubiri said in an interview.
“The committee of Sen. Grace Poe will have enough time — even if she wants all the way up to the evening — to be able to profound questions on the resource persons on this franchise application,” he added.
Other franchises, too
In a media advisory sent to reporters by Poe’s office, the franchise hearing is scheduled on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m., over a month before the ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise lapses on March 30, 2020.
Poe’s committee will also discuss the broadcast franchises of the following companies:
Local bills, like those seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, should first emanate from the House of Representatives before it can be tackled in the Senate.
But Poe announced early this week that her panel would start deliberating on the network’s franchise even without prior action from the lower chamber provided that she would not yet release a committee report on the matter.
This developed after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto before the Supreme Court seeking to nullify ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The OSG then later filed a motion asking the high court to stop ABS-CBN and concerned parties from discussing the said petition.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1231006/senators-to-have-full-house-attendance-in-abs-cbn-franchise-hearing-on-feb-24-plenary-session-deferred
Before adjourning Wednesday’s Senate session, Zubiri said “very important” hearings would be conducted on Monday next week, one of which would make use of the session hall as its venue.
“So to allow our colleagues to utilize all our rooms on Monday for very important hearings, particularly the Session hall, we move to adjourn session until the 26th February, Wednesday three o’clock in the afternoon,” Zubiri said.
He noted that approval of all the senators had been sought about the matter.
“The Senate is a collegial body. We make a collective decision and that was the decision we arrived at in the mini caucus,” he said in an interview.
The session will resume on Wednesday next week, Feb. 26, since Feb. 25, the EDSA People Power anniversary, is a declared national holiday, Zubiri said.
‘Full house’
According to Zubiri, the majority of the senators expressed intent to join the hearing, which will be led by Sen. Grace Poe, public services committee chair.
“About 80 percent of senators have signified that they will be attending so we are expecting a full house in terms of the membership of the Senate to attend and question resource persons,” Zubiri said in an interview.
“The committee of Sen. Grace Poe will have enough time — even if she wants all the way up to the evening — to be able to profound questions on the resource persons on this franchise application,” he added.
Other franchises, too
In a media advisory sent to reporters by Poe’s office, the franchise hearing is scheduled on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m., over a month before the ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise lapses on March 30, 2020.
Poe’s committee will also discuss the broadcast franchises of the following companies:
- Golden Broadcast Professional Inc.
- Gold Label Broadcasting System Inc.
- Broadcast Enterprises and Affiliated Media Inc.
- First United Broadcasting Corp.
- Crusaders Broadcasting System Inc.
- Bicol Broadcasting System Inc.
Local bills, like those seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, should first emanate from the House of Representatives before it can be tackled in the Senate.
But Poe announced early this week that her panel would start deliberating on the network’s franchise even without prior action from the lower chamber provided that she would not yet release a committee report on the matter.
This developed after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto before the Supreme Court seeking to nullify ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The OSG then later filed a motion asking the high court to stop ABS-CBN and concerned parties from discussing the said petition.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1231006/senators-to-have-full-house-attendance-in-abs-cbn-franchise-hearing-on-feb-24-plenary-session-deferred
UST supports ABS-CBN on franchise renewal, cites their award-winning programs
By Minka Klaudia Tiangco
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) expressed its support for news and entertainment conglomerate ABS-CBN, that is currently facing threats to the extension of their franchise.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, UST cited ABS-CBN for winning numerous awards for its news, entertainment, and public service programs at the USTv Students’ Choice Awards.
“We offer our prayers for the network to be able to renew its franchise, and we are one with them in their commitment to continue their service to the Filipino people and the global community,” the statement read.
Earlier, Journalism faculty and students of UST released separate statements expressing their support for the broadcast giant, and condemning Solicitor General Jose Calida’s action of asking the Supreme Court (SC) not to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Calida filed a quo warranto petition, which is a legal procedure filed against someone who “usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office, position, or franchise.”
In a statement, he accused ABS-CBN of allowing foreign investors to take parts in its ownership and broadcasting for a fee.
He also recently asked the SC to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from talking about the quo warranto case.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/19/ust-supports-abs-cbn-on-franchise-renewal-cites-their-award-winning-programs/
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) expressed its support for news and entertainment conglomerate ABS-CBN, that is currently facing threats to the extension of their franchise.
In a statement released on Tuesday evening, UST cited ABS-CBN for winning numerous awards for its news, entertainment, and public service programs at the USTv Students’ Choice Awards.
“We offer our prayers for the network to be able to renew its franchise, and we are one with them in their commitment to continue their service to the Filipino people and the global community,” the statement read.
Earlier, Journalism faculty and students of UST released separate statements expressing their support for the broadcast giant, and condemning Solicitor General Jose Calida’s action of asking the Supreme Court (SC) not to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Calida filed a quo warranto petition, which is a legal procedure filed against someone who “usurps, intrudes into, or unlawfully holds or exercises a public office, position, or franchise.”
In a statement, he accused ABS-CBN of allowing foreign investors to take parts in its ownership and broadcasting for a fee.
He also recently asked the SC to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from talking about the quo warranto case.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/19/ust-supports-abs-cbn-on-franchise-renewal-cites-their-award-winning-programs/
Go calls for Congress conscience vote on ABS-CBN franchise
Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go is urging his fellow lawmakers to vote on the franchise renewal of broadcast giant ABS-CBN according to their conscience.
“Once (the franchise renewal) reaches our office here at the Senate, I will decide. I’ve already said it: vote according to your conscience,” Go said yesterday, adding that his conscience is in accordance with the best interests of the Filipino people.
The Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to revoke the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence Inc., citing what it described as “highly abusive practices” of the network.
ABS-CBN has denied any wrongdoing.
The Senate committee on public services, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, is set to hold its first hearing on ABS-CBN’s application for the renewal of its franchise on Feb. 24.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he counts 17 to 19 senators voting to renew the franchise.
Go said he would participate in the hearing, saying it may be in aid of legislation.
“Maybe, that’s the proper forum to hear both sides. We will listen to whomever wants to speak, whomever wants to complain... I might also ask some questions,” he added.
The senator said any legislative action regarding franchise bills must emanate from the House of Representatives, according to the law; thus, the lower chamber should immediately tackle the franchise application with congressmen also voting according to their own conscience.
“The longer we prolong the application, the hotter the issue becomes. Talk it among yourselves. That’s the process, anyway, and then send it here to the Senate and the President will decide, and let him approve it or exercise his veto power,” he said.
The senator added that he recently spoke with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on the issue, and the latter told him that the franchise application was a priority of the House, but there were many other applications lined up.
Go said he would make his decision when the franchise documents reach the Senate even as he vowed to be impartial and fair in casting his vote on the application.
Despite Duterte’s rants against the network, it does not mean he does not want its franchise to be renewed, according to the former special assistant to the President.
“(The President has) been very vocal with his grievances, but he has not ordered anyone, even me who’s close to the President. He always says vote according to your conscience and prioritize the interest of Filipinos,” Go said.
Provisional permit
Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) would do well if it issues a provisional permit for ABS-CBN to continue operating if and when Congress fails to act on the broadcast network’s application for the renewal of its franchise, which expires on March 30, according to the senator.
Go prodded the House to quickly act on the network’s franchise application so that the same can be forwarded to the Senate for deliberation.
“There have been many previous cases like this that were also handled by the NTC where while the renewal is still being processed, (it lets broadcast networks) operate until they are approved, like the case of the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines),” he told reporters.
The senator said he learned that the NTC has sought a legal opinion from the Department of Justice on the matter, apparently because the matter of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has become a “hot” issue.
“The usual practice is that the NTC allows them to operate, but I think this time, they’re reluctant to decide on their own,” he added.
‘Confused’
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday described as “confused” lawmakers pushing for a resolution which states that broadcast giant ABS-CBN could still operate even after its franchise expires in March.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said lawmakers could just pass a law extending all franchises pending in Congress if they are inclined to act favorably on bills renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“They are confused. One lawmaker is saying he needs a resolution from the House that ABS-CBN can still operate even beyond the expiration because the practice is (a network can operate) as long as there is a pending (franchise bill),” Panelo said in a chance interview.
“My response to that is why not just pass a law extending it? While the franchise bills are pending, they can pass a law that says that, there is an extension for this period of time,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had earlier filed Joint Resolution 11, which extends the franchise of ABS-CBN until Dec. 31, 2022.
In the resolution, Drilon said both the Senate and the House of Representatives need additional time to review, assess and determine whether ABS-CBN should be granted the renewal of its franchise.
Panelo said President Duterte, who had vowed to make sure that ABS-CBN would be “out,” would not stop Congress from renewing the network’s franchise.
“As matter of principle he does not interfere with a co-equal branch,” the Palace spokesman said.
Panelo was also puzzled as to why some lawmakers insist on adhering to a practice of allowing a network to operate even if its franchise had lapsed.
“They said that’s the practice. I cannot understand them. Why would they adhere to a practice? Just pass a law extending it. It’s that simple,” he told Radyo Singko 92.3 FM yesterday.
“Even if they say it’s the practice, it doesn’t mean that it’s the law. It’s the practice because nobody is questioning it. What if somebody questions it?” he added.
Go also questioned Drilon’s joint resolution.
“Why a joint resolution? Why not just approve or disapprove the franchise renewal? Why Dec. 31, 2022? Is there politics here?” he said. “It’s either we approve or we deny or reject.”
Robredo condemns gag order
Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday condemned the petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida asking the SC to prohibit ABS-CBN and its representatives from discussing the merits of the quo warranto case which he filed against the broadcast network.
“First and foremost, the freedom of expression is primordial,” Robredo said in an interview in Quezon City.
“And what’s hilarious is that he’s seeking a gag order against the media. It’s very ironic because we expect the media to provide information to the public, yet they are the ones who are prohibited from speaking,” she added.
Robredo said Calida’s move to suppress freedom of expression would affect not only the media company, but all Filipinos in general.
“It has implications on all of us. If it can suppress a media company like ABS-CBN through this means, then who are safe from this kind of harassment?” the Vice President said.
On Tuesday, Calida filed a “very urgent motion” asking the SC to issue a gag order which bans “parties and persons acting on their behalf” from releasing statements discussing the merits of his plea to forfeit ABS-CBN’s existing franchise.
He said this violates the sub judice rule, which prohibits anyone from publicly assessing an ongoing case to avoid pre-judgment.
Bato apologizes
In a related development, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa apologized to the 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN who felt offended when he compared their concern with that of the entire nation.
Dela Rosa said the issue of the ABS-CBN franchise is not about its employees but oligarchs who have disregarded the rule of law for a long time now.
He also claimed that there are only about 3,000 regular employees of ABS-CBN and the number 11,000 may have included their families.
“I’m sorry if you felt offended. It’s not that I don’t value their jobs. I consider the entire nation, ABS-CBN employees included,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
“We can’t just ignore wrongdoings because of compassion. We will not allow those who violate the law. We will not allow these oligarchs to take advantage of us because we are poor. We should be fair and not because we are poor, they will put one over us,” he added.
The point, according to the senator, is “not because we pity those 11,000 employees, we will allow a TV station to violate laws and the government will just turn a blind eye on the violation.”
Dela Rosa said he is supportive of Poe’s initiative to conduct a public hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise to discuss the alleged violations.
He also gave assurance that in the event the senators fail to find any violation, he will personally talk to Duterte to convince him to approve the franchise.
“A public hearing is really necessary. If during the hearing, we establish that ABS-CBN is a saint, not a sinner, I will personally push for their franchise renewal. I will also personally tell the President, ‘Sir, it seems wrong information reaches you, this is the correct information.’ Only the truth should prevail,” he said.
If proven that they have violated the law, however, Dela Rosa said ABS-CBN should face the consequence of their action.
On the call for his resignation, the senator said he was voted to office by more than 19 million and those calling for his resignation were not among them.
On the accusation of some netizens that he was being a blind follower of the President, Dela Rosa said that his pronouncement that he would swim or sink with Duterte should not be taken against him as he pointed out that the President’s primary concern is the plight of the Filipino people.
“It’s logic. I am loyal to the President because I can see that his loyalty is with the Filipino people. Where should I put my loyalty, to oligarchs?” he said. – With Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Louella Desiderio, EvelynMacairan
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/20/1994664/go-calls-congress-conscience-vote-abs-cbn-franchise
“Once (the franchise renewal) reaches our office here at the Senate, I will decide. I’ve already said it: vote according to your conscience,” Go said yesterday, adding that his conscience is in accordance with the best interests of the Filipino people.
The Office of the Solicitor General has asked the Supreme Court (SC) to revoke the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence Inc., citing what it described as “highly abusive practices” of the network.
ABS-CBN has denied any wrongdoing.
The Senate committee on public services, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe, is set to hold its first hearing on ABS-CBN’s application for the renewal of its franchise on Feb. 24.
Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto said he counts 17 to 19 senators voting to renew the franchise.
Go said he would participate in the hearing, saying it may be in aid of legislation.
“Maybe, that’s the proper forum to hear both sides. We will listen to whomever wants to speak, whomever wants to complain... I might also ask some questions,” he added.
The senator said any legislative action regarding franchise bills must emanate from the House of Representatives, according to the law; thus, the lower chamber should immediately tackle the franchise application with congressmen also voting according to their own conscience.
“The longer we prolong the application, the hotter the issue becomes. Talk it among yourselves. That’s the process, anyway, and then send it here to the Senate and the President will decide, and let him approve it or exercise his veto power,” he said.
The senator added that he recently spoke with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on the issue, and the latter told him that the franchise application was a priority of the House, but there were many other applications lined up.
Go said he would make his decision when the franchise documents reach the Senate even as he vowed to be impartial and fair in casting his vote on the application.
Despite Duterte’s rants against the network, it does not mean he does not want its franchise to be renewed, according to the former special assistant to the President.
“(The President has) been very vocal with his grievances, but he has not ordered anyone, even me who’s close to the President. He always says vote according to your conscience and prioritize the interest of Filipinos,” Go said.
Provisional permit
Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) would do well if it issues a provisional permit for ABS-CBN to continue operating if and when Congress fails to act on the broadcast network’s application for the renewal of its franchise, which expires on March 30, according to the senator.
Go prodded the House to quickly act on the network’s franchise application so that the same can be forwarded to the Senate for deliberation.
“There have been many previous cases like this that were also handled by the NTC where while the renewal is still being processed, (it lets broadcast networks) operate until they are approved, like the case of the CBCP (Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines),” he told reporters.
The senator said he learned that the NTC has sought a legal opinion from the Department of Justice on the matter, apparently because the matter of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal has become a “hot” issue.
“The usual practice is that the NTC allows them to operate, but I think this time, they’re reluctant to decide on their own,” he added.
‘Confused’
Meanwhile, Malacañang yesterday described as “confused” lawmakers pushing for a resolution which states that broadcast giant ABS-CBN could still operate even after its franchise expires in March.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said lawmakers could just pass a law extending all franchises pending in Congress if they are inclined to act favorably on bills renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“They are confused. One lawmaker is saying he needs a resolution from the House that ABS-CBN can still operate even beyond the expiration because the practice is (a network can operate) as long as there is a pending (franchise bill),” Panelo said in a chance interview.
“My response to that is why not just pass a law extending it? While the franchise bills are pending, they can pass a law that says that, there is an extension for this period of time,” he added.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon had earlier filed Joint Resolution 11, which extends the franchise of ABS-CBN until Dec. 31, 2022.
In the resolution, Drilon said both the Senate and the House of Representatives need additional time to review, assess and determine whether ABS-CBN should be granted the renewal of its franchise.
Panelo said President Duterte, who had vowed to make sure that ABS-CBN would be “out,” would not stop Congress from renewing the network’s franchise.
“As matter of principle he does not interfere with a co-equal branch,” the Palace spokesman said.
Panelo was also puzzled as to why some lawmakers insist on adhering to a practice of allowing a network to operate even if its franchise had lapsed.
“They said that’s the practice. I cannot understand them. Why would they adhere to a practice? Just pass a law extending it. It’s that simple,” he told Radyo Singko 92.3 FM yesterday.
“Even if they say it’s the practice, it doesn’t mean that it’s the law. It’s the practice because nobody is questioning it. What if somebody questions it?” he added.
Go also questioned Drilon’s joint resolution.
“Why a joint resolution? Why not just approve or disapprove the franchise renewal? Why Dec. 31, 2022? Is there politics here?” he said. “It’s either we approve or we deny or reject.”
Robredo condemns gag order
Vice President Leni Robredo yesterday condemned the petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida asking the SC to prohibit ABS-CBN and its representatives from discussing the merits of the quo warranto case which he filed against the broadcast network.
“First and foremost, the freedom of expression is primordial,” Robredo said in an interview in Quezon City.
“And what’s hilarious is that he’s seeking a gag order against the media. It’s very ironic because we expect the media to provide information to the public, yet they are the ones who are prohibited from speaking,” she added.
Robredo said Calida’s move to suppress freedom of expression would affect not only the media company, but all Filipinos in general.
“It has implications on all of us. If it can suppress a media company like ABS-CBN through this means, then who are safe from this kind of harassment?” the Vice President said.
On Tuesday, Calida filed a “very urgent motion” asking the SC to issue a gag order which bans “parties and persons acting on their behalf” from releasing statements discussing the merits of his plea to forfeit ABS-CBN’s existing franchise.
He said this violates the sub judice rule, which prohibits anyone from publicly assessing an ongoing case to avoid pre-judgment.
Bato apologizes
In a related development, Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa apologized to the 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN who felt offended when he compared their concern with that of the entire nation.
Dela Rosa said the issue of the ABS-CBN franchise is not about its employees but oligarchs who have disregarded the rule of law for a long time now.
He also claimed that there are only about 3,000 regular employees of ABS-CBN and the number 11,000 may have included their families.
“I’m sorry if you felt offended. It’s not that I don’t value their jobs. I consider the entire nation, ABS-CBN employees included,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino.
“We can’t just ignore wrongdoings because of compassion. We will not allow those who violate the law. We will not allow these oligarchs to take advantage of us because we are poor. We should be fair and not because we are poor, they will put one over us,” he added.
The point, according to the senator, is “not because we pity those 11,000 employees, we will allow a TV station to violate laws and the government will just turn a blind eye on the violation.”
Dela Rosa said he is supportive of Poe’s initiative to conduct a public hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise to discuss the alleged violations.
He also gave assurance that in the event the senators fail to find any violation, he will personally talk to Duterte to convince him to approve the franchise.
“A public hearing is really necessary. If during the hearing, we establish that ABS-CBN is a saint, not a sinner, I will personally push for their franchise renewal. I will also personally tell the President, ‘Sir, it seems wrong information reaches you, this is the correct information.’ Only the truth should prevail,” he said.
If proven that they have violated the law, however, Dela Rosa said ABS-CBN should face the consequence of their action.
On the call for his resignation, the senator said he was voted to office by more than 19 million and those calling for his resignation were not among them.
On the accusation of some netizens that he was being a blind follower of the President, Dela Rosa said that his pronouncement that he would swim or sink with Duterte should not be taken against him as he pointed out that the President’s primary concern is the plight of the Filipino people.
“It’s logic. I am loyal to the President because I can see that his loyalty is with the Filipino people. Where should I put my loyalty, to oligarchs?” he said. – With Alexis Romero, Helen Flores, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Delon Porcalla, Louella Desiderio, EvelynMacairan
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/20/1994664/go-calls-congress-conscience-vote-abs-cbn-franchise
Wednesday, February 19, 2020
Solons deny ‘pressure’ from House leaders amid ABS-CBN franchise issue
Several lawmakers denied claims that the leaders of the House of Representatives are pushing those who signed a resolution pressing for immediate action on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal to withdraw their signatures.
Citing “verified reports,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Tuesday said House leaders have been asking signatories to withdraw their support to House Resolution (HR) No. 639 that urges the House committee on legislative franchises to “report out without further delay for plenary action” a consolidated version of the bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
But Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the lawmakers who signed the resolution, said that nobody approached him to withdraw his support of the resolution.
“It’s not true. I’m a signatory, nobody has approached me to withdraw and I continue to stick with my signature,” Rodriguez told reporters when asked about the alleged pressure.
Rodriguez said he was hesitant at first to sign the resolution as he wants to give Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, who chairs the legislative franchises committee, more time.
“But because there’s no action, I am now compelled to sign already to take it out from the committee and hear it in the plenary,” Rodriguez said.
Likewise, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, who serves as vice-chairperson of the legislative franchises committee, denied the allegations, but said that members of the House have the right to withdraw their own signatures “due to their own cognizance or self enlightenment.”
“I surmise that the reason for them to withdraw their signatures on their own without pressure from the leadership was because they might have realized the negativity in them signing the said petition or resolution,” Albano said in a statement on Tuesday.
Albano listed possible reasons for the withdrawal of signature of some lawmakers such as the realization that they are “shooting themselves in their own foot” by signing the resolution.
“In signing this resolution as members of the majority leadership in the committee of franchise, they are actually saying that they are not doing their job as members of the said committee,” Albano said.
“When truly, they are part of the committee that has been doing a lot of hard to goodness work. Therefore suddenly, some realizes that It doesn’t make sense for them to sign the said resolution and still be with the majority,” he added.
Further, another possible reason Albano cited was the lawmakers’ realization that they will create a bad precedent if they sign the resolution.
“That being chairpersons and members of their own committees apart from the franchise committee, they would be hurt if we also suddenly do it to them and short cut the process just because we have gathered enough signatures and take away the committee’s right to calendar the case in their own time frame, hear the case, and promulgate a decision,” Albano said.
Likewise, Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, one of the vice chairpersons of the legislative franchises committee, denied the claims.
“Wala namang pinepressure sa usaping ganyan pero hindi natin alam sa side nila, baka naman may ilang nakausap sa side nila pero sa side ng majority ay walang pine-pressure ang majority,” Sy-Alvarado told reporters.
(There is no one being pressured but we do not know on their side, maybe they had talked to someone on their side, but in the side of the majority the majority is pressuring no one.)
As of February 17, Lagman said HR 639 has been signed by nearly 100 lawmakers — including eight deputy speakers.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Lagman for an updated number of signatories but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1230805/solons-deny-pressure-from-house-leaders-amid-abs-cbn-franchise-issue
Citing “verified reports,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman on Tuesday said House leaders have been asking signatories to withdraw their support to House Resolution (HR) No. 639 that urges the House committee on legislative franchises to “report out without further delay for plenary action” a consolidated version of the bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
But Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, one of the lawmakers who signed the resolution, said that nobody approached him to withdraw his support of the resolution.
“It’s not true. I’m a signatory, nobody has approached me to withdraw and I continue to stick with my signature,” Rodriguez told reporters when asked about the alleged pressure.
Rodriguez said he was hesitant at first to sign the resolution as he wants to give Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, who chairs the legislative franchises committee, more time.
“But because there’s no action, I am now compelled to sign already to take it out from the committee and hear it in the plenary,” Rodriguez said.
Likewise, Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, who serves as vice-chairperson of the legislative franchises committee, denied the allegations, but said that members of the House have the right to withdraw their own signatures “due to their own cognizance or self enlightenment.”
“I surmise that the reason for them to withdraw their signatures on their own without pressure from the leadership was because they might have realized the negativity in them signing the said petition or resolution,” Albano said in a statement on Tuesday.
Albano listed possible reasons for the withdrawal of signature of some lawmakers such as the realization that they are “shooting themselves in their own foot” by signing the resolution.
“In signing this resolution as members of the majority leadership in the committee of franchise, they are actually saying that they are not doing their job as members of the said committee,” Albano said.
“When truly, they are part of the committee that has been doing a lot of hard to goodness work. Therefore suddenly, some realizes that It doesn’t make sense for them to sign the said resolution and still be with the majority,” he added.
Further, another possible reason Albano cited was the lawmakers’ realization that they will create a bad precedent if they sign the resolution.
“That being chairpersons and members of their own committees apart from the franchise committee, they would be hurt if we also suddenly do it to them and short cut the process just because we have gathered enough signatures and take away the committee’s right to calendar the case in their own time frame, hear the case, and promulgate a decision,” Albano said.
Likewise, Bulacan Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, one of the vice chairpersons of the legislative franchises committee, denied the claims.
“Wala namang pinepressure sa usaping ganyan pero hindi natin alam sa side nila, baka naman may ilang nakausap sa side nila pero sa side ng majority ay walang pine-pressure ang majority,” Sy-Alvarado told reporters.
(There is no one being pressured but we do not know on their side, maybe they had talked to someone on their side, but in the side of the majority the majority is pressuring no one.)
As of February 17, Lagman said HR 639 has been signed by nearly 100 lawmakers — including eight deputy speakers.
INQUIRER.net has reached out to Lagman for an updated number of signatories but has yet to receive a response as of posting time.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1230805/solons-deny-pressure-from-house-leaders-amid-abs-cbn-franchise-issue
11 municipalities in BARMM will receive IRA
LANAO DEL SUR: Eleven municipalities in the Bangasamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will receive their Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA) shares. Abdullah Cusain, assistant executive secretary of the Office of the Chief Minister, announced this during the “Kapihan sa Bangsamoro” held last Tuesday in Cotabato City. The 11 municipalities are Datu Salibo, Datu Hoffer, Mangudadatu, Pandag, Northern Kabuntalan, Datu Blah Sinsuat and Datu Anggal Midtimbang in Maguindanao; and Akbar, Al-Barka, Hadji Muhtamad and Mohammad Ajul in Basilan. The municipalities had previously failed to meet the requirements needed in receiving IRA during the now-defunct Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). Article VI, Section 10 of the Bangsamoro Organic Law states that “the municipalities or barangay (villages) created, divided, merged or whose boundaries are substantially altered, shall be entitled to their appropriate share in the national taxes or Internal Revenue Allotment: Provided that it shall be approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.”
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/19/news/regions/11-municipalities-in-barmm-will-receive-ira/689421/
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/19/news/regions/11-municipalities-in-barmm-will-receive-ira/689421/
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Atienza to colleagues: Act on franchise or resign
By Raymund Antonio
Buhay Representative Lito Atienza on Tuesday asked his colleagues in Congress to act now on the franchise renewal application of media giant ABS-CBN Corp. or step down from their posts.
Speaking to media at the weekly Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, Atienza said that lawmakers should fulfill their mandate instead of leaving the matter to the Supreme Court.
“I’m defending the position that Congress must function. We must take up the franchise, whether you’re for or against is not material to me,” he said.
“I don’t want ABS-CBN to close down without Congress voting for it,” he stressed.
Atienza is not convinced his fellow lawmakers are still too busy with other concerns for them to tackle bills renewing the ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The partylist lawmaker called out House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, for refusing to work on the franchise renewal.
“That’s despicable, condemnable when Congress says we can’t handle a very important matter because we have to attend to so many things. There are many congressmen who want to work,” he said.
The broadcast network’s 25-year legislative franchise is set to expire on March 30.
Cayetano, however, assured that ABS-CBN can operate way past the expiration date as long as the 18th Congress has not yet adjourned.
His assurance was in contrast to the reaction of Atienza, who called it just the House leader’s “razzle dazzle game.”
“They are made to believe that you only need now is a special permit and you can continue. Speaker Cayetano said they are good up to 2022, that’s not legally tenable. If you don’t have a franchise, your license is expired,” he said.
Former congressman Renato Diaz, who was also a guest in the media forum, shared the same view, saying that it’s ”game over” for ABS-CBN if it fails to get its franchise renewed in Congress.
“Can anybody air without a franchise? The answer is no. In the name of press freedom, no,” he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/18/atienza-to-colleagues-act-on-franchise-or-resign/
Buhay Representative Lito Atienza on Tuesday asked his colleagues in Congress to act now on the franchise renewal application of media giant ABS-CBN Corp. or step down from their posts.
Speaking to media at the weekly Pandesal Forum in Quezon City, Atienza said that lawmakers should fulfill their mandate instead of leaving the matter to the Supreme Court.
“I’m defending the position that Congress must function. We must take up the franchise, whether you’re for or against is not material to me,” he said.
“I don’t want ABS-CBN to close down without Congress voting for it,” he stressed.
Atienza is not convinced his fellow lawmakers are still too busy with other concerns for them to tackle bills renewing the ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The partylist lawmaker called out House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, for refusing to work on the franchise renewal.
“That’s despicable, condemnable when Congress says we can’t handle a very important matter because we have to attend to so many things. There are many congressmen who want to work,” he said.
The broadcast network’s 25-year legislative franchise is set to expire on March 30.
Cayetano, however, assured that ABS-CBN can operate way past the expiration date as long as the 18th Congress has not yet adjourned.
His assurance was in contrast to the reaction of Atienza, who called it just the House leader’s “razzle dazzle game.”
“They are made to believe that you only need now is a special permit and you can continue. Speaker Cayetano said they are good up to 2022, that’s not legally tenable. If you don’t have a franchise, your license is expired,” he said.
Former congressman Renato Diaz, who was also a guest in the media forum, shared the same view, saying that it’s ”game over” for ABS-CBN if it fails to get its franchise renewed in Congress.
“Can anybody air without a franchise? The answer is no. In the name of press freedom, no,” he said.
https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/18/atienza-to-colleagues-act-on-franchise-or-resign/
Business groups call for ABS-CBN franchise renewal
The business groups note the critical role of a free press in economic development
Four of the biggest business groups in the Philippines called on Congress to act on bills filed by several lawmakers to renew the broadcasting franchise of media giant ABS-CBN.
The Makati Business Club, Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, and Management Association of the Philippines issued a joint statement on Tuesday, February 18, asking the legislature for "balanced, fair, and timely consideration" of the moves to keep ABS-CBN on-air.
The groups also pointed out the media's role in the economy.
"We fervently urge Congress to judiciously address any issues raised against the company while taking serious account of the bedrock issues of media freedom and free enterprise, which allow businesses to flourish for the overall welfare of our economy and our people," they said.
President Rodrigo Duterte claims that ABS-CBN did not air his political ads in 2016, and even suggested that the network "sell" to a white knight investor.
The House of Representatives has yet to act on franchise renewal measures, with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano openly stating that he did not like ABS-CBN's coverage of the 2016 elections. Cayetano ran but lost in the vice presidential race then. (READ: Gerald Anderson as Alan Peter Cayetano)
Bills seeking to renew the franchise for another 25 years were first filed in 2014, but remained pending at the committee level.
Solicitor General Jose Calida has filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN, claiming the network violated the Constitution by using Philippine Depositary Receipts, a legal financial instrument.
https://www.rappler.com/business/252102-groups-call-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
Four of the biggest business groups in the Philippines called on Congress to act on bills filed by several lawmakers to renew the broadcasting franchise of media giant ABS-CBN.
The Makati Business Club, Institute of Corporate Directors, Institute for Solidarity in Asia, and Management Association of the Philippines issued a joint statement on Tuesday, February 18, asking the legislature for "balanced, fair, and timely consideration" of the moves to keep ABS-CBN on-air.
The groups also pointed out the media's role in the economy.
"We fervently urge Congress to judiciously address any issues raised against the company while taking serious account of the bedrock issues of media freedom and free enterprise, which allow businesses to flourish for the overall welfare of our economy and our people," they said.
President Rodrigo Duterte claims that ABS-CBN did not air his political ads in 2016, and even suggested that the network "sell" to a white knight investor.
The House of Representatives has yet to act on franchise renewal measures, with Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano openly stating that he did not like ABS-CBN's coverage of the 2016 elections. Cayetano ran but lost in the vice presidential race then. (READ: Gerald Anderson as Alan Peter Cayetano)
Bills seeking to renew the franchise for another 25 years were first filed in 2014, but remained pending at the committee level.
Solicitor General Jose Calida has filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN, claiming the network violated the Constitution by using Philippine Depositary Receipts, a legal financial instrument.
https://www.rappler.com/business/252102-groups-call-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal
Talent managers, KBP back calls to renew ABS-CBN franchise
More industry organizations have spoken up in favor of the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, days after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto petition which appears to seek the revocation of the company's broadcasting operations.
Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), a group of professional and active entertainment journalists of newspapers, magazines, and tabloids, bloggers/vloggers, online influencers, and radio/TV/online reporters, has voiced concern over the possible loss of jobs should renewal of the media company’s franchise be rejected or approved.
“We are one in calling on Congress to reconsider the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which is set to expire on March this year. We fully believe in upholding the freedom of the press and of expression in our motherland, the Philippines,” said PMPC in its statement.
Professional Artist Managers, Inc. (PAMI), meanwhile emphasized the public service that ABS-CBN renders to Filipinos in need.
“More than anything, ABS-CBN brings joy to millions of viewers, and delivers relief to thousands of beneficiaries during typhoons, flash floods, and volcanic eruptions, among others. They also provide a safe space for abused children, aside from reporting vital information and news to the public here and abroad,” said PAMI.
The group of talent managers also called on the government and the Congress to be fair and to consider the effects if ABS-CBN is shut down.
On the other hand, Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI), an organization comprised of top Filipino feature-length filmmakers, is “deeply concerned” about the OSG’s quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN.
“Like cinema, press freedom plays a vanguard role in society: not only is it meant to communicate and disseminate information, but it also plays the crucial role of being a mirror to its audience, and making us face and question our cultural ills,” DGPI’s board of directors said in a statement.
“As filmmakers, let us advocate for democracy and denounce any attempt to silence media and cultural entities that are critical of power,” it added.
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has also reiterated its support for ABS-CBN, saying the Kapamilya network works “hand in hand” with the KBP members in upholding broadcast responsibilities and initiating industry reforms.
The OSG recently filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court to nullify the franchise of ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN, however, refuted the allegations, saying these were “without merit,” and strongly maintained that it “did not violate the law” and that the move appears to be an “attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN.”
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/02/18/1994140/talent-managers-kbp-back-calls-renew-abs-cbn-franchise
Philippine Movie Press Club (PMPC), a group of professional and active entertainment journalists of newspapers, magazines, and tabloids, bloggers/vloggers, online influencers, and radio/TV/online reporters, has voiced concern over the possible loss of jobs should renewal of the media company’s franchise be rejected or approved.
“We are one in calling on Congress to reconsider the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which is set to expire on March this year. We fully believe in upholding the freedom of the press and of expression in our motherland, the Philippines,” said PMPC in its statement.
Professional Artist Managers, Inc. (PAMI), meanwhile emphasized the public service that ABS-CBN renders to Filipinos in need.
“More than anything, ABS-CBN brings joy to millions of viewers, and delivers relief to thousands of beneficiaries during typhoons, flash floods, and volcanic eruptions, among others. They also provide a safe space for abused children, aside from reporting vital information and news to the public here and abroad,” said PAMI.
The group of talent managers also called on the government and the Congress to be fair and to consider the effects if ABS-CBN is shut down.
On the other hand, Directors’ Guild of the Philippines, Inc. (DGPI), an organization comprised of top Filipino feature-length filmmakers, is “deeply concerned” about the OSG’s quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN.
“Like cinema, press freedom plays a vanguard role in society: not only is it meant to communicate and disseminate information, but it also plays the crucial role of being a mirror to its audience, and making us face and question our cultural ills,” DGPI’s board of directors said in a statement.
“As filmmakers, let us advocate for democracy and denounce any attempt to silence media and cultural entities that are critical of power,” it added.
Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) has also reiterated its support for ABS-CBN, saying the Kapamilya network works “hand in hand” with the KBP members in upholding broadcast responsibilities and initiating industry reforms.
The OSG recently filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court to nullify the franchise of ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN, however, refuted the allegations, saying these were “without merit,” and strongly maintained that it “did not violate the law” and that the move appears to be an “attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN.”
https://www.philstar.com/entertainment/2020/02/18/1994140/talent-managers-kbp-back-calls-renew-abs-cbn-franchise
Biz groups call for 'balanced, fair, timely' deliberation on ABS-CBN franchise
Four business groups on Tuesday called for a "balanced, fair, and timely" deliberation on bills filed on Congress to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp.
In a joint statement, the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), the Makati Business Club (MBC), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) urged Congress to take into consideration freedom of the press.
"We the undersigned business organizations express our strong support for a balanced, fair, and timely consideration of the bills filed by several lawmakers on the renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation's broadcasting franchise," the statement read.
"We fervently urge Congress to judiciously address any issues raised against the company while taking serious account of the bedrock issues of media freedom and free enterprise, which allow businesses to flourish for the overall welfare of our economy and our people," it added.
Earlier this month, the government — led by Solicitor General Jose Calida — filed a quo warranto petition against the broadcast network and asked the Supreme Court to drop the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence Inc.
"We want to put an end to what we discovered to be highly abusive practices of ABS-CBN benefitting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers. These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years," Calida said in a statement.
ABS-CBN lost P258.593 million in market capitalization after trading closed that day.
The petition was filed even as the company's franchise granted by Congress was set to expire in March, with bills seeking to renew the franchise still pending.
For its part, ABS-CBN maintained that it did not violate the law, contrary to claims made by Calida, slamming the petition as "ill-timed."
Malacañang has since denied having a hand in the government's petition, with presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo saying President Rodrigo Duterte had "nothing to do" with the legal action.
Duterte had consistently threatened to oppose the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, as he claimed the network did not air political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign which were already paid for.
Meanwhile, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday claimed the issue with the ABS-CBN franchise is not about press freedom, as he said ABS-CBN supposedly took sides and favored certain candidates during the 2010 and 2016 elections. —KBK, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/726384/biz-groups-call-for-balanced-fair-timely-deliberation-on-abs-cbn-franchise/story/
In a joint statement, the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD), the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA), the Makati Business Club (MBC), and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) urged Congress to take into consideration freedom of the press.
"We the undersigned business organizations express our strong support for a balanced, fair, and timely consideration of the bills filed by several lawmakers on the renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation's broadcasting franchise," the statement read.
"We fervently urge Congress to judiciously address any issues raised against the company while taking serious account of the bedrock issues of media freedom and free enterprise, which allow businesses to flourish for the overall welfare of our economy and our people," it added.
Earlier this month, the government — led by Solicitor General Jose Calida — filed a quo warranto petition against the broadcast network and asked the Supreme Court to drop the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary ABS-CBN Convergence Inc.
"We want to put an end to what we discovered to be highly abusive practices of ABS-CBN benefitting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers. These practices have gone unnoticed or were disregarded for years," Calida said in a statement.
ABS-CBN lost P258.593 million in market capitalization after trading closed that day.
The petition was filed even as the company's franchise granted by Congress was set to expire in March, with bills seeking to renew the franchise still pending.
For its part, ABS-CBN maintained that it did not violate the law, contrary to claims made by Calida, slamming the petition as "ill-timed."
Malacañang has since denied having a hand in the government's petition, with presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo saying President Rodrigo Duterte had "nothing to do" with the legal action.
Duterte had consistently threatened to oppose the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, as he claimed the network did not air political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign which were already paid for.
Meanwhile, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday claimed the issue with the ABS-CBN franchise is not about press freedom, as he said ABS-CBN supposedly took sides and favored certain candidates during the 2010 and 2016 elections. —KBK, GMA News
https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/companies/726384/biz-groups-call-for-balanced-fair-timely-deliberation-on-abs-cbn-franchise/story/
Quo warranto plea vs ABS-CBN franchise catches attention of int'l media
It's not just in the Philippines where the quo warranto petition seeking to revoke ABS-CBN's franchise and prevent it from airing is being talked about.
The discussion has reached other countries, with the move seen as President Rodrigo Duterte's worst attack against the press.
International broadcaster Al Jazeera English devoted a whole episode of its Inside Story program to the issue, with former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, UP journalism professor Danilo Arao and political analyst Richard Heydarian facing off.
Roque and Arao clashed on the issue of whether the President was behind the filing of the petition before the Supreme Court.
Roque believes the quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN will not succeed, calling it a form of prior restraint which is a violation of press freedom.
"My prediction is, because it is in the nature of prior restraint, it will not prosper. The jurisprudence in the Philippines recognizes completely freedom of the press. Governments may try to suppress it but the courts will never uphold any infringement on freedom of the press," he said.
Arao, however, noted: "We have to ask ourselves who controls the Supreme Court right now. On paper, we have laws protecting freedom of speech and other basic freedoms. We may be the freest press in Asia, or one of the freest in Asia but we’re one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism."
Arao said other media organizations in the Philippines also experience harassment and face multiple cases, which Rappler CEO Maria Ressa believes are part of the Philippine government's attempt to control the media.
"Anytime someone wants to control the government, the first step is to control the media," Ressa said.
"This is the 21st Century version of that. But what’s so interesting is you don’t even need to declare Martial Law to try to control media. You hang a Damocles’ sword over owners, their families, you threaten them with legal cases and you can control them this way."
ANC, February 18, 2020
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/18/20/quo-warranto-plea-vs-abs-cbn-franchise-catches-attention-of-intl-media
The discussion has reached other countries, with the move seen as President Rodrigo Duterte's worst attack against the press.
International broadcaster Al Jazeera English devoted a whole episode of its Inside Story program to the issue, with former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, UP journalism professor Danilo Arao and political analyst Richard Heydarian facing off.
Roque and Arao clashed on the issue of whether the President was behind the filing of the petition before the Supreme Court.
Roque believes the quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN will not succeed, calling it a form of prior restraint which is a violation of press freedom.
"My prediction is, because it is in the nature of prior restraint, it will not prosper. The jurisprudence in the Philippines recognizes completely freedom of the press. Governments may try to suppress it but the courts will never uphold any infringement on freedom of the press," he said.
Arao, however, noted: "We have to ask ourselves who controls the Supreme Court right now. On paper, we have laws protecting freedom of speech and other basic freedoms. We may be the freest press in Asia, or one of the freest in Asia but we’re one of the most dangerous places in the world to practice journalism."
Arao said other media organizations in the Philippines also experience harassment and face multiple cases, which Rappler CEO Maria Ressa believes are part of the Philippine government's attempt to control the media.
"Anytime someone wants to control the government, the first step is to control the media," Ressa said.
"This is the 21st Century version of that. But what’s so interesting is you don’t even need to declare Martial Law to try to control media. You hang a Damocles’ sword over owners, their families, you threaten them with legal cases and you can control them this way."
ANC, February 18, 2020
https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/18/20/quo-warranto-plea-vs-abs-cbn-franchise-catches-attention-of-intl-media
‘Shaping national consciousness:’ TUA comms dep't urges Congress to renew ABS-CBN franchise
The media and communications department of Trinity University of Asia (TUA) urged Congress on Monday to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN.
“ABS-CBN has been in our national consciousness for many decades now, and this network has contributed in the shaping of the values and aspirations of the Trinitian Community as well as the Filipino citizenry through its programs, shows, and reporting. A national life without ABS-CBN, or an individual life in the absence of this network, is a dark age of the mind and spirit,” the school department said in a statement.
“We urge the members of the House of Representatives, who by democratic definition, are our supposed representatives, to speak for our desires and aspirations, as well as our concerns in all aspects of our social and political life, to act reasonably and dignified in representing our fight for democracy, as well as all the tenets of our freedoms as enshrined in our Bill of Rights as citizens and builders of this nation,” it added.
Read the full statement here:
Online news website Rappler, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines have backed ABS-CBN after Solicitor General Jose Calida sought to void the company's franchise via a "quo warranto" petition.
It has also gained support from reporters covering Malacañang, the defense, police, the Senate and business beats.
In seeking to invalidate ABS-CBN's franchise, the government's top lawyer, Jose Calida, accused the company of "highly abusive practices."
ABS-CBN, however, insists it is compliant with all the laws governing its franchise and has secured necessary permits for its business operations.
"We reiterate that everything we do is in accordance with the law. We did not violate the law. This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN," the company said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly pledged he would stop the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN, which drew his anger for allegedly refusing to air his campaign ad during the 2016 presidential campaign.
In December, Duterte even urged the owners of ABS-CBN to just sell the company, saying he would "see to it that you're out." But Malacañang on Tuesday distanced itself from Calida's moves, saying "the President has nothing to do with it.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/shaping-national-consciousness-tua-comms-dept-urges-congress-to-renew-abs-cbn-franchise
“ABS-CBN has been in our national consciousness for many decades now, and this network has contributed in the shaping of the values and aspirations of the Trinitian Community as well as the Filipino citizenry through its programs, shows, and reporting. A national life without ABS-CBN, or an individual life in the absence of this network, is a dark age of the mind and spirit,” the school department said in a statement.
“We urge the members of the House of Representatives, who by democratic definition, are our supposed representatives, to speak for our desires and aspirations, as well as our concerns in all aspects of our social and political life, to act reasonably and dignified in representing our fight for democracy, as well as all the tenets of our freedoms as enshrined in our Bill of Rights as citizens and builders of this nation,” it added.
Read the full statement here:
Online news website Rappler, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines have backed ABS-CBN after Solicitor General Jose Calida sought to void the company's franchise via a "quo warranto" petition.
It has also gained support from reporters covering Malacañang, the defense, police, the Senate and business beats.
In seeking to invalidate ABS-CBN's franchise, the government's top lawyer, Jose Calida, accused the company of "highly abusive practices."
ABS-CBN, however, insists it is compliant with all the laws governing its franchise and has secured necessary permits for its business operations.
"We reiterate that everything we do is in accordance with the law. We did not violate the law. This case appears to be an attempt to deprive Filipinos of the services of ABS-CBN," the company said.
President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly pledged he would stop the broadcast operations of ABS-CBN, which drew his anger for allegedly refusing to air his campaign ad during the 2016 presidential campaign.
In December, Duterte even urged the owners of ABS-CBN to just sell the company, saying he would "see to it that you're out." But Malacañang on Tuesday distanced itself from Calida's moves, saying "the President has nothing to do with it.
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/shaping-national-consciousness-tua-comms-dept-urges-congress-to-renew-abs-cbn-franchise
Drilon seeks extension of ABS-CBN franchise
SENATE Minority Leader Franklin Drilon on Monday filed a joint resolution that seeks to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN broadcast network up to 2022.
The senator filed Senate Joint Resolution 11 amid uncertainties on the fate of the network, whose 25-year franchise expires on March 30, 2020.
Drilon said the Senate and House of Representatives need more time to review the application for renewal of the corporation’s franchise.
He stressed that Congress needs to review, assess and determine if the network’s franchise should be renewed.
He noted that there are only 12 session days left before Congress adjourns on Mar. 14, 2020.
Drilon moved to extend the validity of the franchise of ABS-CBN until Dec. 31, 2022.
“On March 30, 2020, more than 11,000 employees will go home jobless and millions of viewers will be affected if we do not act on this resolution immediately. I therefore urge for the immediate passage of this resolution,” he said.
On February 10, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court to forfeit the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, for alleged violations of the terms and conditions of its franchise.
Meanwhile, lawmakers at the House reiterated their call to expedite the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, saying there is no guarantee that the network would continue operations after its franchise expires.
Eleven bills seeking to renew the network’s franchise are pending at the House.
“When the ABS-CBN franchises expire, there is nothing that would prevent any regulatory agency of the government from knocking on the gates of ABS-CBN to serve notices of closure, or cease and desist orders on or immediately after the expiration,” Rep. Lawrence Fortun said.
“Instead of giving ABS-CBN an illusory remedy, the House of Representatives must expedite the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which has long been pending in the House committee on legislative franchises,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said.
Lagman and Fortun authored House Resolution 639 “urging the Committee on Legislative Franchises to report out without further delay for plenary action” the pending bills.
Provisional authority
Both lawmakers said there is no legal anchor or basis for NTC to grant a provisional permit.
“After the franchise expires, it is now entirely within the prerogative of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue or not to issue any provisional authority to ABS-CBN,” Fortun said.
Lagman, meanwhile, said the NTC cannot “resurrect” an expired legislative franchise by granting a “provisional authority to operate.”
Joint Concurrent Resolution
Meanwhile, Fortun urged Congress to be clear “clear and categorical in its intention” to allow the extended operation of ABS-CBN pending franchise renewal.
“A House Resolution or, better still, a Joint Concurrent Resolution of both the House and the Senate urging the NTC and other regulatory agencies to give ABS-CBN the provisional authority to continue operating while its application for franchise renewal is still pending in the House, will be in order,” he said.
Cebu City First District Rep. Raul del Mar also prodded Congress to do its job by hearing the ABS-CBN renewal despite the quo warranto petition before the high court. WITH DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/18/news/headlines/drilon-seeks-extension-of-abs-cbn-franchise-2/688089/
The senator filed Senate Joint Resolution 11 amid uncertainties on the fate of the network, whose 25-year franchise expires on March 30, 2020.
Drilon said the Senate and House of Representatives need more time to review the application for renewal of the corporation’s franchise.
He stressed that Congress needs to review, assess and determine if the network’s franchise should be renewed.
He noted that there are only 12 session days left before Congress adjourns on Mar. 14, 2020.
Drilon moved to extend the validity of the franchise of ABS-CBN until Dec. 31, 2022.
“On March 30, 2020, more than 11,000 employees will go home jobless and millions of viewers will be affected if we do not act on this resolution immediately. I therefore urge for the immediate passage of this resolution,” he said.
On February 10, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court to forfeit the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN Corp. and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence, for alleged violations of the terms and conditions of its franchise.
Meanwhile, lawmakers at the House reiterated their call to expedite the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, saying there is no guarantee that the network would continue operations after its franchise expires.
Eleven bills seeking to renew the network’s franchise are pending at the House.
“When the ABS-CBN franchises expire, there is nothing that would prevent any regulatory agency of the government from knocking on the gates of ABS-CBN to serve notices of closure, or cease and desist orders on or immediately after the expiration,” Rep. Lawrence Fortun said.
“Instead of giving ABS-CBN an illusory remedy, the House of Representatives must expedite the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which has long been pending in the House committee on legislative franchises,” Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said.
Lagman and Fortun authored House Resolution 639 “urging the Committee on Legislative Franchises to report out without further delay for plenary action” the pending bills.
Provisional authority
Both lawmakers said there is no legal anchor or basis for NTC to grant a provisional permit.
“After the franchise expires, it is now entirely within the prerogative of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue or not to issue any provisional authority to ABS-CBN,” Fortun said.
Lagman, meanwhile, said the NTC cannot “resurrect” an expired legislative franchise by granting a “provisional authority to operate.”
Joint Concurrent Resolution
Meanwhile, Fortun urged Congress to be clear “clear and categorical in its intention” to allow the extended operation of ABS-CBN pending franchise renewal.
“A House Resolution or, better still, a Joint Concurrent Resolution of both the House and the Senate urging the NTC and other regulatory agencies to give ABS-CBN the provisional authority to continue operating while its application for franchise renewal is still pending in the House, will be in order,” he said.
Cebu City First District Rep. Raul del Mar also prodded Congress to do its job by hearing the ABS-CBN renewal despite the quo warranto petition before the high court. WITH DIVINA NOVA JOY DELA CRUZ
https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/02/18/news/headlines/drilon-seeks-extension-of-abs-cbn-franchise-2/688089/
Post ABS-CBN franchise scenario
Barring a miracle, the TV and radio stations of media giant ABS-CBN would sign off for the last time at the strike of midnight on March 30.
Although some lawmakers say it can continue to operate until the adjournment of Congress in 2022 despite the expiration of its franchise, it is doubtful if it will take that course of action.
In the first place, that “continuing validity” theory does not have solid legal backing that ABS-CBN can rely on to justify its broadcasting activities after March 30.
Besides, its executives may be sued for violation of our telecommunications laws on the operation of media facilities without appropriate license or permit.
There is no dearth in our country of publicity-hungry lawyers who would do that, so why take the risk?
Come that fateful day, some 6,000 regular employees, 900 non regular staff and 3,000 talents of ABS-CBN may find themselves out of job.
For the regular and nonregular employees, the question of whether or not they are entitled to separation pay would invariably arise.
Under existing regulations, the closure of a business establishment due to the installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment to prevent losses, or closing or cessation of operation entitle laid off employees to that benefit.
It would be difficult for ABS-CBN to invoke serious business losses to excuse the payment of separation pay considering that, as of end of September last year, it had a net income of P2.27 billion, which represents a 53-percent increase for the same period in 2018.
Neither can it claim that the expiration of its franchise equates to “closing or cessation of operation” because that would not result to the shutdown of the Kapamilya network.The corporate personality of its owner, ABS-CBN Corp., will remain intact and outstanding despite the nonrenewal of its franchise.
Although of immense value, the franchise is only one of its multimillion-peso assets and its loss does not prevent it from engaging in commercial activities outside of radio and TV broadcasts.
To ABS-CBN’s credit, it had the foresight to look beyond radio and TV broadcasts as sources of revenue.
It has diversified to other businesses, such as TV content production, movies and digital media, through its affiliate and subsidiary companies in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.
Bear in mind that content plays a significant role in the success of any media outfit.
The most sophisticated or state-of-the-art broadcast facilities would be useless unless they have the material or content that can attract viewership from its market. And when it does, advertisers would not be far behind.
Judging from the high viewership of ABS-CBN’s prime-time TV offerings, it is apparent the Kapamilya network has proven its expertise in this field.
Through its digital or internet-based facilities, ABS-CBN has been able to deliver content to its target audience, in particular millennial's who get their dose of news and entertainment from mobile phones, tablets and other similar gizmos.
With the use of Wi-Fi and other broadband techniques, ABS-CBN can continue to make its content available to the public and earn advertisement revenues despite the loss of its franchise.
For now, the revenue stream from digital media may be small compared to that of TV broadcasts, but taking into account the gradual shift of the viewing audience from TV sets to mobile phones and similar devices, it is not farfetched that the financial gains of the latter medium would soon be on a par with its predecessor.
Considering the owners of ABS-CBN have other sources of income and would not be impoverished by the expiration of its franchise, they may choose to ride out the remaining two years or so of the Duterte administration and hope that the next political dispensation would be accommodating to them.
Shed no tears yet for ABS-CBN.
For comments, please send your email to rpalabrica@inquirer.com.ph.
https://business.inquirer.net/290722/post-abs-cbn-franchise-scenario
Although some lawmakers say it can continue to operate until the adjournment of Congress in 2022 despite the expiration of its franchise, it is doubtful if it will take that course of action.
In the first place, that “continuing validity” theory does not have solid legal backing that ABS-CBN can rely on to justify its broadcasting activities after March 30.
Besides, its executives may be sued for violation of our telecommunications laws on the operation of media facilities without appropriate license or permit.
There is no dearth in our country of publicity-hungry lawyers who would do that, so why take the risk?
Come that fateful day, some 6,000 regular employees, 900 non regular staff and 3,000 talents of ABS-CBN may find themselves out of job.
For the regular and nonregular employees, the question of whether or not they are entitled to separation pay would invariably arise.
Under existing regulations, the closure of a business establishment due to the installation of labor-saving devices, redundancy, retrenchment to prevent losses, or closing or cessation of operation entitle laid off employees to that benefit.
It would be difficult for ABS-CBN to invoke serious business losses to excuse the payment of separation pay considering that, as of end of September last year, it had a net income of P2.27 billion, which represents a 53-percent increase for the same period in 2018.
Neither can it claim that the expiration of its franchise equates to “closing or cessation of operation” because that would not result to the shutdown of the Kapamilya network.The corporate personality of its owner, ABS-CBN Corp., will remain intact and outstanding despite the nonrenewal of its franchise.
Although of immense value, the franchise is only one of its multimillion-peso assets and its loss does not prevent it from engaging in commercial activities outside of radio and TV broadcasts.
To ABS-CBN’s credit, it had the foresight to look beyond radio and TV broadcasts as sources of revenue.
It has diversified to other businesses, such as TV content production, movies and digital media, through its affiliate and subsidiary companies in the Philippines and elsewhere in the world.
Bear in mind that content plays a significant role in the success of any media outfit.
The most sophisticated or state-of-the-art broadcast facilities would be useless unless they have the material or content that can attract viewership from its market. And when it does, advertisers would not be far behind.
Judging from the high viewership of ABS-CBN’s prime-time TV offerings, it is apparent the Kapamilya network has proven its expertise in this field.
Through its digital or internet-based facilities, ABS-CBN has been able to deliver content to its target audience, in particular millennial's who get their dose of news and entertainment from mobile phones, tablets and other similar gizmos.
With the use of Wi-Fi and other broadband techniques, ABS-CBN can continue to make its content available to the public and earn advertisement revenues despite the loss of its franchise.
For now, the revenue stream from digital media may be small compared to that of TV broadcasts, but taking into account the gradual shift of the viewing audience from TV sets to mobile phones and similar devices, it is not farfetched that the financial gains of the latter medium would soon be on a par with its predecessor.
Considering the owners of ABS-CBN have other sources of income and would not be impoverished by the expiration of its franchise, they may choose to ride out the remaining two years or so of the Duterte administration and hope that the next political dispensation would be accommodating to them.
Shed no tears yet for ABS-CBN.
For comments, please send your email to rpalabrica@inquirer.com.ph.
https://business.inquirer.net/290722/post-abs-cbn-franchise-scenario
Senate hearing on ABS-CBN franchise set on February 27
The Senate has set the first public hearing on the renewal of the franchise of broadcasting network ABS-CBN on Feb. 27, ahead of the transmission of a counterpart bill from the House of Representatives, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said yesterday.
The hearing will be led by the Senate committee on public services, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe.
Pending discussion of the ABS-CBN franchise, Poe said traditionally, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) can issue a provisional franchise, just like what happened in the cases of giant telecommunications companies Smart and Globe.
“If I’m not mistaken, all of them, their franchises had lapsed while bills had been filed and pending before Congress, that’s why the NTC extended them, or NTC was silent about it,” she said.
The senator, however, encouraged Congress to put in writing the provisional permit of ABS-CBN.
“There are certain controversies involved here, I think, that it would be prudent for us, particularly Congress, to put in writing exactly the request to extend the validity of the license to operate while their franchise is still pending in Congress,” she said.
Poe expressed concern on the plight of the 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN if the network’s franchise is not renewed, preventing its continuous operations.
“That will be very problematic because when your franchise is cancelled, my understanding is, particularly for media, you can’t broadcast anything anymore with that frequency. So what does that mean? Blackout. On March 30 (the franchise’s expiry date), about 11,000 people will have to walk out from their jobs,” she said.
“I’m not saying that ABS-CBN is the primary source of news, it’s not that. It doesn’t mean that freedom of expression is absolutely removed, but it can also send a message that somehow, in certain cases, other media outlets might be a little bit worried about their own situation without going into details of the complaint of the quo warranto,” she added.
A month before ABS-CBN’s franchise expires, Solicitor General Jose Callida filed a quo warranto before the Supreme Court anchored on alleged violations.
Some senators maintained that the issue on franchise is the sole mandate of Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon yesterday filed a joint resolution that seeks to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN up to the end of 2022, citing the need for more time for both houses of Congress to review the application for renewal of the network’s franchise.
Poe clarified that the Senate respects the mandate and authority of the House of Representatives, from where franchise bills should emanate.
She, however, said that as part of the oversight functions of the Senate, it is necessary to determine whether ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed or not.
Poe also said that the Senate is allowed to conduct hearings simultaneously with the House similar to the practices on the General Appropriations Bill and bills on taxes.
She, however, noted that her committee would hold the release of its report until the House submits its version to the Senate.
The senator also expressed hope that the House will immediately act on the ABS-CBN franchise before the Senate goes on recess on March 12.
Meanwhile, about 91 House members yesterday signed Resolution 639 that calls for the transfer of at least eight pending bills on the franchise renewal of broadcasting network ABS-CBN from the committee on legislative franchises to the plenary.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman spearheaded the move, along with some militant lawmakers and senior House officials, among them Reps. Doy Leachon of Oriental Mindoro, Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur), Kit Belmonte (Quezon City) and Joy Tambunting (Parañaque).
The resolution wants Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the committee on legislative franchises, to “report out without further delay for plenary action a consolidated version of eight pending bills” for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise.
‘No franchise, no operation’
There is no way that the NTC can issue a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN for as long as the House of Representatives did not grant a renewal of its legislative franchise, a veteran legislator clarified yesterday.
“The settled rule is no franchise, no operation,” Lagman said, citing as basis Section 16 of Republic Act 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act, which categorically states that broadcast stations must first secure a franchise before the NTC can act.
“It unequivocally provides that ‘no person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise’,” he added, as he described such propositions (NTC provisional authority) as an “illusory remedy.”
“The NTC on its own cannot resurrect an expired legislative franchise by granting a former grantee provisional authority to operate. Only holders of a valid, existing and/or renewed franchise can apply with the NTC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity.”
Lagman then suggested that the House committee on legislative franchises under Alvarez commence and “expedite” its hearings on at least eight ABS-CBN bills pending in his committee.
Meanwhile, three more citizen groups have lent their voices to the growing chorus of objections to government’s alleged crackdown on ABS-CBN, condemning it on socio-economic, political and legal grounds.
In separate statements, Bantay Konsyumer, Kuryente, Kalsada; CitizenWatch Philippines and Democracy Watch Philippines assailed Calida’s quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN. – With Delon Porcalla
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/18/1994046/senate-hearing-abs-cbn-franchise-set-february-27
The hearing will be led by the Senate committee on public services, chaired by Sen. Grace Poe.
Pending discussion of the ABS-CBN franchise, Poe said traditionally, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) can issue a provisional franchise, just like what happened in the cases of giant telecommunications companies Smart and Globe.
“If I’m not mistaken, all of them, their franchises had lapsed while bills had been filed and pending before Congress, that’s why the NTC extended them, or NTC was silent about it,” she said.
The senator, however, encouraged Congress to put in writing the provisional permit of ABS-CBN.
“There are certain controversies involved here, I think, that it would be prudent for us, particularly Congress, to put in writing exactly the request to extend the validity of the license to operate while their franchise is still pending in Congress,” she said.
Poe expressed concern on the plight of the 11,000 employees of ABS-CBN if the network’s franchise is not renewed, preventing its continuous operations.
“That will be very problematic because when your franchise is cancelled, my understanding is, particularly for media, you can’t broadcast anything anymore with that frequency. So what does that mean? Blackout. On March 30 (the franchise’s expiry date), about 11,000 people will have to walk out from their jobs,” she said.
“I’m not saying that ABS-CBN is the primary source of news, it’s not that. It doesn’t mean that freedom of expression is absolutely removed, but it can also send a message that somehow, in certain cases, other media outlets might be a little bit worried about their own situation without going into details of the complaint of the quo warranto,” she added.
A month before ABS-CBN’s franchise expires, Solicitor General Jose Callida filed a quo warranto before the Supreme Court anchored on alleged violations.
Some senators maintained that the issue on franchise is the sole mandate of Congress.
Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon yesterday filed a joint resolution that seeks to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN up to the end of 2022, citing the need for more time for both houses of Congress to review the application for renewal of the network’s franchise.
Poe clarified that the Senate respects the mandate and authority of the House of Representatives, from where franchise bills should emanate.
She, however, said that as part of the oversight functions of the Senate, it is necessary to determine whether ABS-CBN’s franchise should be renewed or not.
Poe also said that the Senate is allowed to conduct hearings simultaneously with the House similar to the practices on the General Appropriations Bill and bills on taxes.
She, however, noted that her committee would hold the release of its report until the House submits its version to the Senate.
The senator also expressed hope that the House will immediately act on the ABS-CBN franchise before the Senate goes on recess on March 12.
Meanwhile, about 91 House members yesterday signed Resolution 639 that calls for the transfer of at least eight pending bills on the franchise renewal of broadcasting network ABS-CBN from the committee on legislative franchises to the plenary.
Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman spearheaded the move, along with some militant lawmakers and senior House officials, among them Reps. Doy Leachon of Oriental Mindoro, Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur), Kit Belmonte (Quezon City) and Joy Tambunting (Parañaque).
The resolution wants Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, chairman of the committee on legislative franchises, to “report out without further delay for plenary action a consolidated version of eight pending bills” for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s 25-year franchise.
‘No franchise, no operation’
There is no way that the NTC can issue a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN for as long as the House of Representatives did not grant a renewal of its legislative franchise, a veteran legislator clarified yesterday.
“The settled rule is no franchise, no operation,” Lagman said, citing as basis Section 16 of Republic Act 7925 or the Public Telecommunications Policy Act, which categorically states that broadcast stations must first secure a franchise before the NTC can act.
“It unequivocally provides that ‘no person shall commence or conduct the business of being a public telecommunications entity without first obtaining a franchise’,” he added, as he described such propositions (NTC provisional authority) as an “illusory remedy.”
“The NTC on its own cannot resurrect an expired legislative franchise by granting a former grantee provisional authority to operate. Only holders of a valid, existing and/or renewed franchise can apply with the NTC for a certificate of public convenience and necessity.”
Lagman then suggested that the House committee on legislative franchises under Alvarez commence and “expedite” its hearings on at least eight ABS-CBN bills pending in his committee.
Meanwhile, three more citizen groups have lent their voices to the growing chorus of objections to government’s alleged crackdown on ABS-CBN, condemning it on socio-economic, political and legal grounds.
In separate statements, Bantay Konsyumer, Kuryente, Kalsada; CitizenWatch Philippines and Democracy Watch Philippines assailed Calida’s quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN. – With Delon Porcalla
https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/02/18/1994046/senate-hearing-abs-cbn-franchise-set-february-27
Cotabato City seeks exclusion from BARMM until June 30, 2022
DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 17 February) – A year after it voted ‘yes’ to inclusion in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Cotabato City now wants exclusion from the BARMM until the end of the transition period on June 30, 2022.
Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in a February 7 position paper addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, a copy of which she sent MindaNews, asked the President to “hold in abeyance the turnover of Cotabato City to BARMM.”
At the end of her eight-page position paper, Sayadi, who campaigned for a ‘No’ vote in the January 21, 2019 plebsicite to ratify the Bangsamoro law, said they are “ardently appealing for a Status Quo until such time that the three-year transition period has been completed and the BARMM bureaucracy would have been fully operational.”
The transition period of the BARMM, which is presently governed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), ends on June 30, 2022 when the first elected BARMM officials shall have taken their oath of office.
But lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM Minister for Local Government and concurrent BARMM spokesperson, said the inclusion of Cotabato City in the BARMM “is settled already by the Constitution and the Bangsamoro law and that is upon ratification in a plebiscite.”
“The people of Cotabato City have spoken and no one can stop that,” he told MindaNews.
Sayadi, a lawyer, told MindaNews over the weekend that they were “given extension until December 31, 2020” to maintain the status quo.
Asked who granted the “extension,” she replied in a text message on Sunday: “I was informed in Malacanang in the presence of SILG Año (Secretary of Interior and Local Government Eudardo Año). I understand he was given the order to implement it.”
MindaNews asked who gave the order and when but the mayor sent no reply.
But in her Facebook video post on Saturday night, the mayor said “Secretary Ano of DILG said hindi pa time na ilipat ang Cotabato City as of this time – i-defer muna pag-transfer sa Decenber 31, 2020” (it’s not yet time to transfer Cotabato City as of this time and the transfer would be deferred until December 31, 2020).
Mohagher Iqbal, BARMM Minister for Education and concurrent co-chair of the Inter-Governmental Relations Body (he for the BARMM, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez for the national government) told MindaNews on Monday they are not aware that a decision has been made on the appeal of Cotabato City. “We have yet to receive a copy of the decision,” he said, adding that President assured he would give a “fair decision” as the BARMM maintained that the vote of the people in the plebiscite must be respected.
President Duterte met with Sayadi and Iqbal and other BARMM officials and Cabinet Secretaries on February 4 and February 12. Duterte, according to MindaNews sources present during the meeting, asked for a legal basis for the city’s appeal.
Cotabato City voted for inclusion in the BARMM on January 21, 2019, with 36,682 in favor and 24,990 against. The mayor said then that they would file a protest, claiming threats and intimidation prevented voters who opposed inclusion in the BARMM from casting their votes. A voter filed an electoral protest.
Constitution, Bangsamoro Law, Jurisprudence
Sinarimbo explained that since the ratification, Cotabato City has been part of the BARMM but “we could not supervise and regulate because the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) field office in Cotabato City has not been transferred to the BARMM, contrary to the mandate of the Bangsamoro Organic Law which is within three months” form the organization of the BTA.
“It is now more than three months and we must comply with the provision of the law,” the BARRM said, citing Article 16, Section 11 of the Bangsamoro law.
in its seven-page position paper submitted to President Duterte, dated Februrary10.
The BARMM took over from the ARMM on February 26, 2019 but it was formally inaugurated on March 29, 2019, graced by President Duterte. Three months from March 29 would have been June 29, 2019.
Thus far, only the Department of Transportation and Communication and, partly the Department of Public Works and Highways, have complied with the provision of the law.
The position paper argued that the BARMM is a constitutional mandate that must be obeyed and the territorial jurisdiction of the BARMM, including Cotabato City, “took effect upon ratification of Republic Act No. 11054.”
RA 11054 is the Organic Law for the BARMM, ratified in January last year by the then five-province, two-city Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 63 villages in six North Cotabato towns, and Cotabato City, where the seat of the BARMM and its predecessor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is. Sulu voted against inclusion but is still part of the BARMM because the law provides that the ARMM votes as one geographical area.
Aside from the Constitution and the Bangsamoro law, the BARMM also cited jursiprudence, reiterating that its creation “contemplates the grant of political autonomy and not just adminisitrative autonomy.”
It also cited the case of Disomangcop vs Datumanong where the Supreme Court ruled that regional autonomy is the “granting of basic internal government powers to the people of a particular area or region with least control and supervision from the central government.”
The BARMM said that based on RA 11054, “ratification in a plebiscite is the operative fact that determines the establishment of the territorial jurisdiction and no further act is necessary for the inclusion of provinces, cities and geographical areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”
Status Quo
Sayadi’s position paper claimed as legal basis for the President to consider their appeal is that implementation of the law is “inherently executive in nature” and the President has the “full power” to hold in abeyance the turnover of the city to the BARMM.
She also cited the general supervision powers of the President in the Constitution, the Local Government Code, and the Bangsamoro Law’s Article VI which provides that the President shall exercise general supervision over the Bangsamoro Government “to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.”
Sayadi claimed her city would be placed in a “critical and difficult situation” and that the momentum of the city for progress and development “will be unduly derailed” if they would be under BARMM.
She cited several issues to push for status quo until 2022, among them, that the turnover of the city to BARMM is “not urgent.. not exigent.. not necessary as of this time,” claiming the BARMM has yet to pass its Administrative Code; that the system of governance in the BARMM is parliamentary and the BARMM is still “learning its craft.”
The mayor also claimed that after a year, “BARMM has no significant achievement,” that it has “no transition plan” and cited other issues pointing to the alleged incompetence of the BARMM and that the turnover of Cotabato City to BARMM now “will imperil the development and growth and bring confusion in Intergovernmental Relations of the City.”
She also claimed peace and order “would be seriously sacrificed,” adding the incidence of crimes has “significantly increased” since the BARMM was set up and that investors are “withdrawing their investments because of this perceived threat to peace and political stability.”
She cited four cases pending in the Supreme Court – three on the issue of constitutionality of the Bangsamoro law filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan vs. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Philippine Constitution Association vs Senate, and Congressman Dimaporo vs Commission on Elections, and a petition for nullification of the plebiscite results in Cotabato City (Amil P. Sula vs Comelec).
Sinarimbo said the Administrative Code is “not a requirement for the inclusion of Cotabato City in the BARMM or the transfer of national agencies located in Cotabato whose functions have been transferred to the Bangsamoro.”
He said the Bangsamoro law provides that “subsisting regional laws, including the Administrative Code, continue to operate unless revoked by the Parliament.”
Still with Region 12?
Sayadi’s reference to a “status quo” is apparently for Cotabato City to remain with Region 12 where it was a part of before last year’s plebiscite on the Bangsamoro law.
But is Cotabato City still part of Region 12?
Teresita Socorro Ramos, Regional Development Council-12 (RDC-12) acting chair told MindaNews Monday that the region’s highest policy-making body considers Cotabato City already part of the BARMM.
“Following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, RDC-12 reorganized and no longer includes Cotabato City as its member. Since then, we have not been inviting Cotabato City to attend RDC-12 meetings,” Ramos, also the director of the National Economic and Development Authority-12, told MindaNews in a telephone inteiew.
She, however, said that several national government line agencies in Region 12 that have no counterpart in the BARMM as yet, continue to include Cotabato City in their budget items “so as to avoid stunting the growth of the city by depriving it of budget.”
Ramos sad the budget allotted by national government line agencies in Region 12 “can be turned over to the BARMM once the new Bangsamoro region has completed its transition process.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas with a report by Bong Sarmiento / MindaNews)
https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2020/02/cotabato-city-seeks-exclusion-from-barmm-until-june-30-2022/
Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi in a February 7 position paper addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte, a copy of which she sent MindaNews, asked the President to “hold in abeyance the turnover of Cotabato City to BARMM.”
At the end of her eight-page position paper, Sayadi, who campaigned for a ‘No’ vote in the January 21, 2019 plebsicite to ratify the Bangsamoro law, said they are “ardently appealing for a Status Quo until such time that the three-year transition period has been completed and the BARMM bureaucracy would have been fully operational.”
The transition period of the BARMM, which is presently governed by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA), ends on June 30, 2022 when the first elected BARMM officials shall have taken their oath of office.
But lawyer Naguib Sinarimbo, BARMM Minister for Local Government and concurrent BARMM spokesperson, said the inclusion of Cotabato City in the BARMM “is settled already by the Constitution and the Bangsamoro law and that is upon ratification in a plebiscite.”
“The people of Cotabato City have spoken and no one can stop that,” he told MindaNews.
Sayadi, a lawyer, told MindaNews over the weekend that they were “given extension until December 31, 2020” to maintain the status quo.
Asked who granted the “extension,” she replied in a text message on Sunday: “I was informed in Malacanang in the presence of SILG Año (Secretary of Interior and Local Government Eudardo Año). I understand he was given the order to implement it.”
MindaNews asked who gave the order and when but the mayor sent no reply.
But in her Facebook video post on Saturday night, the mayor said “Secretary Ano of DILG said hindi pa time na ilipat ang Cotabato City as of this time – i-defer muna pag-transfer sa Decenber 31, 2020” (it’s not yet time to transfer Cotabato City as of this time and the transfer would be deferred until December 31, 2020).
Mohagher Iqbal, BARMM Minister for Education and concurrent co-chair of the Inter-Governmental Relations Body (he for the BARMM, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez for the national government) told MindaNews on Monday they are not aware that a decision has been made on the appeal of Cotabato City. “We have yet to receive a copy of the decision,” he said, adding that President assured he would give a “fair decision” as the BARMM maintained that the vote of the people in the plebiscite must be respected.
President Duterte met with Sayadi and Iqbal and other BARMM officials and Cabinet Secretaries on February 4 and February 12. Duterte, according to MindaNews sources present during the meeting, asked for a legal basis for the city’s appeal.
Cotabato City voted for inclusion in the BARMM on January 21, 2019, with 36,682 in favor and 24,990 against. The mayor said then that they would file a protest, claiming threats and intimidation prevented voters who opposed inclusion in the BARMM from casting their votes. A voter filed an electoral protest.
Constitution, Bangsamoro Law, Jurisprudence
Sinarimbo explained that since the ratification, Cotabato City has been part of the BARMM but “we could not supervise and regulate because the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) field office in Cotabato City has not been transferred to the BARMM, contrary to the mandate of the Bangsamoro Organic Law which is within three months” form the organization of the BTA.
“It is now more than three months and we must comply with the provision of the law,” the BARRM said, citing Article 16, Section 11 of the Bangsamoro law.
in its seven-page position paper submitted to President Duterte, dated Februrary10.
The BARMM took over from the ARMM on February 26, 2019 but it was formally inaugurated on March 29, 2019, graced by President Duterte. Three months from March 29 would have been June 29, 2019.
Thus far, only the Department of Transportation and Communication and, partly the Department of Public Works and Highways, have complied with the provision of the law.
The position paper argued that the BARMM is a constitutional mandate that must be obeyed and the territorial jurisdiction of the BARMM, including Cotabato City, “took effect upon ratification of Republic Act No. 11054.”
RA 11054 is the Organic Law for the BARMM, ratified in January last year by the then five-province, two-city Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, 63 villages in six North Cotabato towns, and Cotabato City, where the seat of the BARMM and its predecessor, the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is. Sulu voted against inclusion but is still part of the BARMM because the law provides that the ARMM votes as one geographical area.
Aside from the Constitution and the Bangsamoro law, the BARMM also cited jursiprudence, reiterating that its creation “contemplates the grant of political autonomy and not just adminisitrative autonomy.”
It also cited the case of Disomangcop vs Datumanong where the Supreme Court ruled that regional autonomy is the “granting of basic internal government powers to the people of a particular area or region with least control and supervision from the central government.”
The BARMM said that based on RA 11054, “ratification in a plebiscite is the operative fact that determines the establishment of the territorial jurisdiction and no further act is necessary for the inclusion of provinces, cities and geographical areas in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region.”
Status Quo
Sayadi’s position paper claimed as legal basis for the President to consider their appeal is that implementation of the law is “inherently executive in nature” and the President has the “full power” to hold in abeyance the turnover of the city to the BARMM.
She also cited the general supervision powers of the President in the Constitution, the Local Government Code, and the Bangsamoro Law’s Article VI which provides that the President shall exercise general supervision over the Bangsamoro Government “to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed.”
Sayadi claimed her city would be placed in a “critical and difficult situation” and that the momentum of the city for progress and development “will be unduly derailed” if they would be under BARMM.
She cited several issues to push for status quo until 2022, among them, that the turnover of the city to BARMM is “not urgent.. not exigent.. not necessary as of this time,” claiming the BARMM has yet to pass its Administrative Code; that the system of governance in the BARMM is parliamentary and the BARMM is still “learning its craft.”
The mayor also claimed that after a year, “BARMM has no significant achievement,” that it has “no transition plan” and cited other issues pointing to the alleged incompetence of the BARMM and that the turnover of Cotabato City to BARMM now “will imperil the development and growth and bring confusion in Intergovernmental Relations of the City.”
She also claimed peace and order “would be seriously sacrificed,” adding the incidence of crimes has “significantly increased” since the BARMM was set up and that investors are “withdrawing their investments because of this perceived threat to peace and political stability.”
She cited four cases pending in the Supreme Court – three on the issue of constitutionality of the Bangsamoro law filed by Sulu Governor Abdusakur Tan vs. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Philippine Constitution Association vs Senate, and Congressman Dimaporo vs Commission on Elections, and a petition for nullification of the plebiscite results in Cotabato City (Amil P. Sula vs Comelec).
Sinarimbo said the Administrative Code is “not a requirement for the inclusion of Cotabato City in the BARMM or the transfer of national agencies located in Cotabato whose functions have been transferred to the Bangsamoro.”
He said the Bangsamoro law provides that “subsisting regional laws, including the Administrative Code, continue to operate unless revoked by the Parliament.”
Still with Region 12?
Sayadi’s reference to a “status quo” is apparently for Cotabato City to remain with Region 12 where it was a part of before last year’s plebiscite on the Bangsamoro law.
But is Cotabato City still part of Region 12?
Teresita Socorro Ramos, Regional Development Council-12 (RDC-12) acting chair told MindaNews Monday that the region’s highest policy-making body considers Cotabato City already part of the BARMM.
“Following the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law, RDC-12 reorganized and no longer includes Cotabato City as its member. Since then, we have not been inviting Cotabato City to attend RDC-12 meetings,” Ramos, also the director of the National Economic and Development Authority-12, told MindaNews in a telephone inteiew.
She, however, said that several national government line agencies in Region 12 that have no counterpart in the BARMM as yet, continue to include Cotabato City in their budget items “so as to avoid stunting the growth of the city by depriving it of budget.”
Ramos sad the budget allotted by national government line agencies in Region 12 “can be turned over to the BARMM once the new Bangsamoro region has completed its transition process.” (Carolyn O. Arguillas with a report by Bong Sarmiento / MindaNews)
https://www.mindanews.com/peace-process/2020/02/cotabato-city-seeks-exclusion-from-barmm-until-june-30-2022/
Monday, February 17, 2020
Franchise renewal not proper forum to settle editorial issues vs ABS-CBN - watchdog
Personal grievances of lawmakers over ABS-CBN's editorial coverage should not be used to settle a score against the network's bid for a fresh legislative franchise, a global watchdog said Monday.
"It's not the job of Congress, of the Senate to try to determine whether ABS-CBN, for instance, has covered, you know, issues fairly. It's not their job," Carlos Conde, Asia researcher of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told ANC's "Headstart."
"The job of the franchise committee is to extend the franchise based on their assessment, or the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission], the government's assessment of ABS-CBN's conduct directly relating to the franchise," he added.
Some 11 bills seeking an extension of ABS-CBN's franchise, which is set to expire on March 30, 2020, remain pending in Congress.
The public should be the one to decide if ABS-CBN, which operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM, had been fair in its editorial coverage.
"To try to use these complaints, no matter how valid they are, to try to influence the issuance of the franchise, that's what makes it really egregious. That's what makes it really problematic," Conde said.
Threatening to block the franchise renewal of the media giant by deferring committee hearings and filing a quo warranto petition to invalidate its license, which Conde considers a one-two punch move by the government, is an attack on press freedom.
"Ultimately, this issue is about how the public will support press freedom. It's non-negotiable. Either you have it or you don't. People say in the Philippines you can still have press freedom, which is true. Anybody can say anything in this milieu right now," Conde said.
He added, "But they are not talking about what happens after you said that. What happens after you are critical. Look what happened to [news website] Rappler. What happens when you do your job properly, look what happens to ABS-CBN. What happens when you criticize a mayor, governor or drug lord. You look at how many journalists in the provinces have been killed in the past for how many years."
Conde warned that ABS-CBN and its thousands of employees who may stand to lose their livelihoods should prepare for the worst.
"Given the popularity of this President, given the fact his party controls the Congress, the possibilities are endless for this government to shut down ABS-CBN," he said.
He added, "The government has shown, the Solicitor General has shown, they have the capacity and the willpower to try to bend the law according to their wishes. I'm sorry to say they're gonna be doing that in the case of ABS-CBN."
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/20/franchise-renewal-not-proper-forum-to-settle-editorial-issues-vs-abs-cbn-watchdog
"It's not the job of Congress, of the Senate to try to determine whether ABS-CBN, for instance, has covered, you know, issues fairly. It's not their job," Carlos Conde, Asia researcher of the New York-based Human Rights Watch, told ANC's "Headstart."
"The job of the franchise committee is to extend the franchise based on their assessment, or the NTC [National Telecommunications Commission], the government's assessment of ABS-CBN's conduct directly relating to the franchise," he added.
Some 11 bills seeking an extension of ABS-CBN's franchise, which is set to expire on March 30, 2020, remain pending in Congress.
The public should be the one to decide if ABS-CBN, which operates free TV Channel 2 and radio DZMM, had been fair in its editorial coverage.
"To try to use these complaints, no matter how valid they are, to try to influence the issuance of the franchise, that's what makes it really egregious. That's what makes it really problematic," Conde said.
Threatening to block the franchise renewal of the media giant by deferring committee hearings and filing a quo warranto petition to invalidate its license, which Conde considers a one-two punch move by the government, is an attack on press freedom.
"Ultimately, this issue is about how the public will support press freedom. It's non-negotiable. Either you have it or you don't. People say in the Philippines you can still have press freedom, which is true. Anybody can say anything in this milieu right now," Conde said.
He added, "But they are not talking about what happens after you said that. What happens after you are critical. Look what happened to [news website] Rappler. What happens when you do your job properly, look what happens to ABS-CBN. What happens when you criticize a mayor, governor or drug lord. You look at how many journalists in the provinces have been killed in the past for how many years."
Conde warned that ABS-CBN and its thousands of employees who may stand to lose their livelihoods should prepare for the worst.
"Given the popularity of this President, given the fact his party controls the Congress, the possibilities are endless for this government to shut down ABS-CBN," he said.
He added, "The government has shown, the Solicitor General has shown, they have the capacity and the willpower to try to bend the law according to their wishes. I'm sorry to say they're gonna be doing that in the case of ABS-CBN."
https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/20/franchise-renewal-not-proper-forum-to-settle-editorial-issues-vs-abs-cbn-watchdog
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)