ABS-CBN’s bid to renew their franchise was rejected today by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises after a series of hearings.
The vote came after 13 hearings were held by the House of Legislative Franchise and Good Government and Public Accountability Committees to discuss various concerns such as the citizenship of the network chairperson Gabby Lopez, alleged violations of labor laws, supposed tax evasion, and alleged political bias, among others.
Yet there is a glimmer of hope, according to House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, ex officio member of the group,
There are options that ABS-CBN and the franchising lawmakers should turn to include the re-filing of a new bill that is going through the same process as the rejected franchise bills.
In this scenario, a person who has voted against the renewal of the franchise — can file a request for reconsideration.
“[One remedy is] when a member file[s] for a motion for reconsideration, but not everybody can file a motion for reconsideration. Only a member who voted with the majority can vote for a motion for reconsideration,” Zarate disclosed on an interview with INQUIRER.net
“The motion for reconsideration will be heard in the same meeting if it’s raised in the same meeting or if it is raised on the same day on writing, it should be calendared by the committee for a hearing”
Although ABS-CBN may still be able to appeal the vote of the committee, it will be difficult to make a reversal.
The critics have tried to pin ABS-CBN on all of their charges, numerous government departments have testified that ABS-CBN has complied with all of the laws and regulations.
Before the vote, rumors and reports circulated that ABS-CBN would lose its vote due to the powerful lobbying by Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and INC.
With a vote of 70 against, 11 for, 2 inhibit, 1 abstain, ABS-CBN did not win the votes of the members of the Legislative Franchise Committee.
This saddening news caught different reactions from Senator Risa Hontiveros and other Kapamilya personalities.
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) July 10, 2020
Salamat, salamat sa lahat ng mensahe ng suporta.
Still have to process what happened but I’m reminding myself of a line from my favorite poem that I often read during tough coverage.
“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain.” pic.twitter.com/GN0BjCeAHP
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) July 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/tonythesharky/status/1281511041265008642
Thank you to the congressmen and congresswomen who stood up for ABS-CBN:
1. Sol Aragones
2. Toff De Venecia
3. Caloi Zarate
4. Gab Bordado
5. Vilma Santos
6. Lianda Bolilia
7. Ping Tejada
8. Beny Abante
9. Stella Quimbo
10. Mujiv Hataman
11. Edward Maceda#KapamilyaForever— Gretchen (@gretchenho) July 10, 2020
Emotions high at the ABS-CBN Newsroom following the House "Yes" vote to deny the network's franchise. Others continue work. We still have news to put out.
Our boss Ging Reyes stopped to comfort an unconsolable long-time news producer.
A few of the 11,071 agrieved today. pic.twitter.com/k23iAKxgkF
— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) July 10, 2020
MANININGIL ANG KASAYSAYAN
The non-renewal of ABS-CBN sets a dangerous precedent.
Because gov't allowed politicking in the process of renewing a legis. franchise & succeeded in shutting down a media institution,we have begun to ring the death knell of press freedom in the country— risa hontiveros (@risahontiveros) July 10, 2020
The ABS-CBN shutdown and the Terror Law will not distract us from the fact that you have failed in handling this pandemic.
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) July 10, 2020
By a vote of 70 to 11 (2 inhibit, 1 abstain), PH House of Representatives has just handed us our death sentence denying ABS-CBN's franchise.
Let history be the judge.
But work must go on.#IbalikAngABSCBN #WeAreOneKapamilya #NoToABSCBNFranchiseRenewal
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) July 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/DearRobert/status/1281486038960009218?s=20
July 10, 2020
ABS-CBN is shut down for the second time since the Martial Law era in 1972. https://t.co/jRmEcreg49
— Gretchen (@gretchenho) July 10, 2020
