A crack in the super majority coalition in the HR bec. of ABS-CBN franchise renewal?

A rare stance of allies from the President has shown itself supporting the renewal of the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN which will terminate this coming March.

12 lawmakers – most of them administration allies and including four deputy speakers- have taken the strong stance as against President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s preference of not renewing the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN.

Among those that made it publicly known their stance regarding the franchise renewal are Deputy Speakers Vilma Santos-Recto from Batangas, Rose Marie Arenas from Pangasinan, Aurelio Gonzales Jr. from Pampanga and Johnny Pimentel from Surigao del Sur.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
(photo credit to owner)

House Bill 676, was the first to be filed last July of 2019 by Nueva Ecija 2nd district Rep. Micaela Violago seeking to renew the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN under Republic Act 7966 issued on March 30, 1995.

“In acknowledgement of ABS-CBN’s accomplishments and the capital requirements of its operations, the immediate renewal of its original franchise which expires on March 30, 2020 is recommended to ensure the uninterrupted and improved delivery of its services to the Filipino people,” Violago explained.

This move was later joined by Albay 2nd district Rep. Joey Salceda, chairman of House ways and means committee as proponent of the measure. Former ABS-CBN news reporter and now Laguna’s 3rd district representative  Rep. Sol Aragones, chair of the House committee on tourism, also filed a similar bill.

“I appeal to the President to reconsider his position on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, as its non-renewal or its sale to third parties may threaten the livelihoods of over 11,000 employees – many of whom I worked with during my stint as a reporter in the network,” she said.

Three other administration lawmakers allies – Mindoro Oriental Rep. Doy Leachon, PBA party-list Rep. Jericho Jonas Nograles and Parañaque 2nd district Rep. Joy Mira Tambunting – also joined the call for the renewal of the franchise.

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez, chairman of the committee on constitutional amendments in the House of Representatives, also supported the measure, while minority lawmaker Mindoro Occidental Rep. Josephine Ramirez-Sato filed the 3^rd and latest bill last Dec. 11, supporting for the same measure.

A crack in the superm ajority?

“This is the first case so far in this 18th Congress where administration allies are showing independence from the executive,” stressed the source who requested anonymity due to sensitivity of the issue.

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Report from  PhilStar