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Franchise not license for a network to do whatever it wants —Cayetano


A franchise granted to a media network is not a license to do whatever it wants with its airtime, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said.

Cayetano made the remark on Monday as several bills remain pending at the House seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years.  The network's franchise will expire on March 20 this year.  

In a Facebook post, Cayetano insisted that the issue with the ABS-CBN franchise is not one about press freedom, pointing out that if the TV network had only been an online media outlet or a traditional newspaper, it did not even need a franchise to operate.

"However, when corporations use airwaves and broadcast frequencies — resources that are rightly owned by the people — these franchises come with serious responsibilities and accountabilities to the Public," he said.

"The government, acting on behalf of the people, cannot justify abuse of the franchise simply because it entertains the masses. The franchise is not a license to do anything that they desire with their airtime - including manipulation, disinformation, and deception," he added.

Cayetano maintained his opinion that ABS-CBN had taken sides and favored certain candidates during the 2010 and 2016 elections  — a practice that he said is prohibited under the Fair Elections Act that the TV network must respond to.

"I did my own soul searching, and while I cannot imagine a Philippines without an ABS-CBN, I also cannot countenance a democracy where a private corporation like ABS-CBN is allowed to use the airwaves to influence our choices in the elections for their favored candidates," he said.

The Speaker reiterated that the House of Representatives will hold hearings on the bills seeking the ABS-CBN franchise renewal at the appropriate time, considering that there are more urgent legislative work that the lawmakers should do.

These include measures on the rehabilitation of Marawi, the spread of NCoV, the eruption of Taal Volcano, the earthquakes in Mindanao, among others, he said.

"It is primarily for this reason that we do not see the urgency of a hearing at this point. It will be tedious, contentious, and it threatens to drain the momentum that has allowed the 18th Congress to accomplish so much," Cayetano said.

"At the risk of criticism, I still insist that we must prioritize the creation of the Departments for OFWs, Disaster Management, and Water. That we should fix the K to 12 program. Find ways to improve our national health preparedness in the face of the global threats. And help strengthen the Duterte Administration’s anti-illegal drugs and anti-corruption campaigns," he added.

Currently, there are 11 pending measures seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years, but the House Committee on Legislative Franchises has yet to hold a single hearing to deliberate them.

Last Monday, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition seeking to revoke its franchise due to alleged foreign ownership and bypassing of authority of the NTC.

The ABS-CBN has maintained that it has not violated any law. —LDF, GMA News

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