Related: House panel to tackle ABS-CBN franchise renewal bid
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 24) — A Senate panel holds a hearing on Monday to look into the issues surrounding the franchise renewal of media giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.
The Senate Committee on Public Services will investigate the alleged violations of the company and its compliance with the terms and conditions stated under Republic Act No. 7966.
ABS-CBN top officials are present at the hearing.
The media company has since denied allegations, maintaining it did not violate the law and had no unsettled taxes. But ABS-CBN CEO and president Carlo Katigbak admitted the company has shortcomings and vowed to correct them.
The Senate hearing comes amid the government’s move to void ABS-CBN’s franchise, which is expiring on March 30.
Related: TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise
Solicitor General Jose Calida told the Supreme Court the network committed “highly abusive practices” in violation of terms set by Congress when it approved ABS-CBN’s franchise in 1995. These include setting up of the KBO channel without a permit from the National Telecommunications Commission, and when it supposedly allowed foreign investors to control the company.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has yet to set a hearing that will tackle the long pending measures — a total of eleven pending before the committee level — on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises is set to tackle the long-pending bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal on Monday where lawmakers will deliberate both the merits and complaints concerning the media giant’s case. However, no hearing is scheduled as of yet.
A total of eleven bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s legal mandate remain pending before the lower chamber. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano earlier said the House may only be able to tackle the bills in May at the earliest, citing “more urgent” measures on deck for lawmakers.
