ABS-CBN must secure franchise renewal with the remaining session days or face closure — Lagman

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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Report from  Politiko

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