Efforts to renew the ABS-CBN Network’s legislative franchise continue as House leadership was asked on Monday to allow the proposed plenary deliberations on the franchise renewal application of ABS-CBN and review its rejection by the legislative franchises committee.
The request expressed hope that the leadership of the House of Representatives will heed their clamor for extensive debate and discussion on the resolution and report of the legislative franchises committee rejecting the network’s renewal application.
Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said that only a plenary decision could overturn the House committee’s decision in rejecting ABS-CBN’s application for franchise renewal. He deemed the verdict as a “mistrial” by the panel.
“It’s a mistrial and a clear case of railroading. That’s why whatever is in that report – so many allegations without evidence resulting in a guilty verdict – is very questionable,” he said.
Atienza said that the report the technical working group (TWG) has come up with is composed of allegations to the violations of ABS-CBN without even a piece of clear evidence. He even claimed that the panel’s decision was already final or predetermined even after all the House hearings.
The TWG is composed of Pablo John Garcia (Cebu City), Xavier Jesus Romualdo (Camiguin), and Stella Quimbo (Marikina), that the committee created to have a more systematic and organized consideration of the arguments discussed by both sides.
Atienza also mentioned that he is suspicious about how quickly the panel managed to come up with a 40-page document that summarizes 12 days of hearings and the testimonies of many witnesses, plus an extra day of summation. With the longevity of the hearings, Atienza questioned how the panel was able to finish all the paperwork overnight.
Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun agreed with Atienza’s opinion, saying it was highly irregular for the committee to vote on the report without even discussing or debating on it.
“Usually, the TWG report is debated on by the committee members, sometimes even line by line. Take note that the report is 40 pages. You cannot study that report in just one hour. Congressman Quimbo was not even given the chance to explain to the committee why she dissented from the TWG report,” Fortun explained.
That is why the 6 Makabayan bloc lawmakers want the 305 members of the House of Representatives to debate and decide with finality on the future of ABS-CBN, citing “insecurities and doubts” in the committee decision to junk the network’s franchise bid.
The Makabayan Bloc is composed of Bayan Muna Reps. Carlo Zarate, Eufemia Cullamat and Ferdinand Gaite, Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas, ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago.
The Makabayan bloc said it is only right for the rest of the House members to be given a chance to vote on the franchise of the media giant since the panel voted against ABS-CBN “despite the absence of compelling reasons.”
“Even if the technical working group report is the most unsure and insecure document ever approved by a committee, the fact is, it was approved by many committee members. The next step, therefore, is to resolve [these] insecurities and doubts through a plenary debate and approval,” the Makabayan bloc said.
“We, thus submit, that the TWG report and the Committee Resolution, which now stands as the Committee Report, requires the approval of the House before it can be implemented,” they wrote.
Several lawmakers have also expressed support for the proposal, including Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto, Parañaque City Rep. Joy Tambunting, and Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman.
“We support it. The move to bring the matter to plenary might be an uphill climb, considering the outcome of the franchise committee voting. As one of the authors of ABS-CBN franchise renewal, I’m still hoping that the franchise is given. I just hope for the best,” Santos-Recto said.
“There’s a chance that it may succeed. There are (305) House members. Only 70 voted against the franchise,” Tambunting explained.
“Everything was done in accordance with the rules, everything was done openly, transparent, legal. So as a general rule kapag dineny ang franchise, hindi na pupunta sa plenary ‘yan. But the plenary under the Constitution has all the powers,” he said.
“So it depends on how the House will decide. So is it possible? Yes. Is it regular procedure? No… And it really depends on the numbers din kung ano’ng mangyayari,” he added.
The Speaker’s statement came after the Makabayan bloc lawmakers conveyed their request in a letter to Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez, whose franchise committee rejected ABS-CBN’s application last July 10.
