There is a huge uproar among Filipinos concerning the recent decision of the house committee on legislative franchises to reject ABS-CBN’s franchise application.
Pia Magalona, wife of late rapper Francis Magalona, caught the attention of the netizens as she posted a screenshot of her conversation with lawmaker Yul Servo regarding which side of the franchise renewal issue he was on.
Tatanong ko lang po re sa vote ni Mr Yul Servo, dahil ang alam ko ay para siya sa approval ng franchise. I wrote all the Representatives in May. Here’s his reply on IG dm. Bakit kasali siya sa 70 na hindi sangayon? #IbalikAngABSCBN#WeAreOneKapamilya pic.twitter.com/lhsM0akYVv
— Pia Magalona ⁷ (@piamagalona) July 10, 2020
Pia Magalona left a private message with the lawmaker reminding him to agree to ABS-CBN franchise renewal when she said, “Uphold your dignity and VOTE YES to ABSCBN franchise renewal. PEACE!” in which the politician replied with a “Yes co-author po ako.”
The message was two weeks prior to the voting and as the conversation recently surfaced, Pia and the netizens were puzzled as to why Yul Servo’s vote came out to be in denial of the network’s franchise renewal.
“Bakit kasali siya sa sa 70 na hindi sangayon?” Pia asked.
John Marvin “Yul Servo Nieto” is one of the franchise authors that cast a vote in denying franchise application of ABS-CBN. He served three terms as a city councilor in Manila and was elected to the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 2016, representing Manila’s 3rd District.
Out of the 85 panel members and ex-officio members present, the resolution to deny the network’s franchise application was adopted with 70 committee members who voted in favor of the resolution, 11 against, 1 abstention, and 2 inhibitions.
Yul’s name is a part of those 70 committee members who voted in favor of the resolution.
The 70-11 vote against ABS-CBN franchise application put the lives and jobs of more than 11,000 employees under the network and even 6,000 third parties including security guards and janitors at stake, especially with the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic still very much real.
Stopping the network’s broadcast operations would also get in the way of promoting diversity in the economy and fostering competition. It would raise a “red flag” for the competition monitor if the network’s share moves to GMA Network.
There will be negative effects on investor confidence as it is a direct government interference on a company that produces services desired by the public.
The ABS-CBN network can again seek a franchise but the National Telecommunications Commission can assign ABS-CBN’s frequency to another entity according to Rep. Carlos Zarate.
The network would have to start from scratch if it re-applies for a franchise because the regulators will have to find an available frequency. With ABS-CBN’s strategic importance on the economy and business, it’s no doubt that other parties might be interested in its frequency.
