Not enough time to resolve ABS-CBN franchise by March 30 —Rep. Albano

There's not enough time to resolve the fate of ABS-CBN's franchise before it expires on March 30, a vice chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises said on Wednesday.

Asked by Mike Enriquez on Dobol B sa News TV if there was enough time to resolve the matter before the franchise's expiration, Isabela Representative Antonio Albano said, "Sa laki ng enormity ng issue na kinakaharap ng ABS-CBN at sa dami po ng petitioners against it, I don't think we will be able to finish it March 30."

"Kasi break ho namin March 12. Wala na ho kami, nasa distrito na po kami. But it doesn't mean na kung hindi namin aaksyunan ito, e titigil na po ang operations ng ABS-CBN," Albano said.

"There are some instances na one year na naglapse just as long nag-apply sila ng renewal sa Kongreso ay pwede pa rin sila mag-operate," he added.

Albano said ABS-CBN could operate until June 30, 2022.

If by the end of the 18th Congress, it still has no franchise, "'yun ho, terminated ang contract nila."

Albano said lawmakers had been busy over the past few months.

“Hindi ganu'n kadali mag-schedule ng hearing. Ang daming nangyayari in the past few months that we did not have the time to sit down to see whether we can calendar the ABS-CBN franchise,” Alabo said.

Albano said House leaders and the committee prioritized issues that needed to be attended to urgently like matters related to the Taal Volcano eruption, even if these were not initially included in the calendar.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and committee chair Representative Franz Alvarez tried to look at the said franchise issue but there were other bills that have been filed first, Albano said in a separate interview on ANC.

“Alangan naman laktawan namin ang mga nauna para sa ABS-CBN,” he added.

Albano said that House leaders also had to review pending petitions for the franchise legislation of other networks and radio stations.

“Even in the 17th Congress, this bill has already been filed. Pero kung gusto niyong mag-blame game, even the 17th Congress did not act on it because of so many pressing issues,” Albano said.

“It is unfair to call our committee of stonewalling. We need to follow our own rules and regulation,” he added.

The bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise have been pending in the House since August 2019.

President Rodrigo Duterte had consistently threatened to revoke ABS-CBN's franchise, as he claimed the network did not air his paid political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is also at risk as Solicitor General Jose Calida filed before the Supreme Court on Monday a quo warranto petition for its forfeiture over “highly abusive practices.” —Joviland Rita/KG/NB, GMA News