There are only two options – renewal or closure of the ABS-CBN franchise
only up to next month.
Opposition legislator Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman has made his concern public for the alleged intentional delay in the
approval of the legislative franchise renewal of the ABS-CBN is being ignored in the piles of other bills in the
committee level in the House of Representatives.
Lagman made a distinction with respect to renewal of franchises of radio
and television networks of lesser magnitude have been expeditiously renewed, while the bill supporting the renewal of the ABS-CBN is being ignored in
the piles of other bills in the committee level in the House of Representatives.
Albay Representative Edcel Lagman blames Pres. Rodrigo Roa Duterte for delay in the ABS-CBN franchise renewal. (photo credit to owner) |
According to Lagman, the intentional delay of the ABS-CBN renewal is because
of President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly opposed such renewal for personal
grievances against ABS-CBN.
According to Lagman, Congress should now act over the nine proposed
legislations that seek to grant the Kapamilya network a fresh 25-year
franchise, noting that there are only less than 24 regular session days left
before the legislature adjourns on March 14—16 days
“Nine similar bills are pending in the 18th Congress, awaiting for the
action of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises less than three months
before the subject franchise ends or effectively 24 regular session days before
the Congress adjourns on March 14, 2020 to May 3, 2020 for the long Holy Week
break,” said Lagman.
The gentleman from Albay reminded his
colleagues that “the jurisdiction of the Congress whether or not to grant a
franchise or renew it, is not isolated from the exercise of the
constitutionally sacrosanct freedom of the press.”
The Albay solon warned that “any
arbitrary refusal to grant a franchise or renew it is an assault to press
freedom.”
The Albay representative added that
the infringement of press freedom “is more patent in the case of a deliberate
delay or refusal to renew an existing franchise because the franchisee expects
the renewal under the law for another 25 years.”
“Press freedom is a fundamental right
safeguarded by the Constitution. It is enshrined in the Bill of Rights to
protect it from any derogation by the State,” said Lagman.
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