Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 26) — The House of Representatives has more than a week to hear ABS-CBN’s franchise bid before it goes on a session break, but some members are hoping they can conduct discussions even during the two-month hiatus.
READ: NTC wants Supreme Court to reject ABS-CBN’s plea to cancel shutdown order
At least two lawmakers on Tuesday pushed for the continuance of deliberations on pressing issues, including on whether to give ABS-CBN another 25-year franchise.
“I will move in the plenary session prior to its adjournment sine die to authorize not only this committee, but all the committees, to conduct its hearings and deliberations on noteworthy and meaningful proposed legislations even while on recess,” House Majority Leader Martin Romualdez said.
He made the statement as he expressed support for the hearing conducted by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, along with the Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, on issues surrounding ABS-CBN’s operations.
Rep. Elpidio Barzaga, Jr. likewise said there should be an “exhaustive hearing” amid conflicting claims of ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta.
“Kaya minumungkahi ko sa ating mga chairpersons na magschedule tayo ng hearing at nabanggit naman ng ating Majority Floor Leader that at the end of the session today bibigyan niya ng karapatan ang mga committee na magkaroon ng session even during the time that we’re on recess,” Barzaga said.
[Translation: That’s why I am suggesting to our chairpersons that we schedule a hearing. Our Majority Floor Leader said that at the end of the session today, he will give the committees the right to conduct sessions even during the time that we’re on recess.]
Congress adjourns session from June 6 to July 26.
ABS-CBN has appealed to Congress for a fresh franchise so it can resume its radio and TV broadcast operations. The network went off the air last May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission refused to grant the media giant provisional authority to operate as earlier promised, and as requested by both houses of Congress.
In its pending petition asking the Supreme Court to invalidate NTC’s shutdown order, ABS-CBN said it is losing from ₱30 million to ₱35 million every day it is off the air. The Lopez-owned network said the shutdown has caused “grave and irreparable injury” to the network and its 11,000 employees who could not afford to lose their jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, ABS-CBN will submit to the House documents to formally respond to allegations mentioned by Marcoleta, including franchise violations, tax-avoidance schemes, and foreign ownership, among others.
In his speech, Katigbak pointed out that the Bureau of Internal Revenue, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Justice and even the Department of Labor and Employment had said the media giant had not violated any laws.
Solicitor General Jose Calida, who skipped today’s hearing, will be invited again in the next hearing on Monday so that the government’s top lawyer could be given a chance to present his arguments against giving ABS-CBN a new franchise.
