TV personality Kiko Rustia expressed his disappointment on Tuesday, September 28, about the House of Representative’s (HoR) decision to grant a gambling company a franchise rather than ABS-CBN, which is still off the air.
Earlier, the House, with a vote of 161-2, passed on third and final reading the bill that would grant franchise license to online cockfighting or “e-sabong” firm Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., the operator of popular Pitmasters Live games of Filipino-Chinese gaming aficionado Charlie “Atong” Ang.
The lawmakers approved House Bill No. 10199, which enables the government to maximize the revenue potential of offsite betting activities.
The bill also allows Lucky 8 Star Quest Inc., a 25-year franchise, to broadcast live cockfighting activities and derbies online and other similar means.
This did not sit well with Rustia, who does not see the importance of granting a franchise to an e-sabong company, arguing that ABS-CBN offers job security to thousands of Filipinos.
“ABS-CBN franchise still deprived and denied, taking away job security from thousands of struggling Filipinos…
“Habang yung sugal na e-sabong eh agad-agad binigyan ng 25-year franchise.
“Ganyan kabaluktot ang sistema ng kongreso natin,” wrote Rustia on Twitter.
ABS CBN franchise still deprived and denied, taking away job security from thousands of struggling Filipinos…
HABANG YUNG SUGAL NA E-SABONG EH AGAD AGAD BINIGYAN NG 25YEARS FRANCHISE.
Ganyan kabaluktot ang sistema ng kongreso natin. https://t.co/fOSYRTqxPM
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) September 28, 2021
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN is still off the air following its closure in 2020 after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered a cease and desist order to its operation.
Countless hearings were done debating whether to renew the Network’s franchise license or not.
The Kapamilya Network debunked allegations thrown by the Government with the help of other government agencies.
In the end, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises made a decision in July 2020 to reject ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application with a vote of 70-11.
The Kapamilya Network, now booted on free TV, has explored the digital platform while collaborating with other TV stations such as A2Z, TV5, and the Tacloban-based Prime Media Holdings (PRIM) company to air some of its shows on analog.
