Speaker shouldn't stop discussions on ABS-CBN franchise merits –Lagman

Speaker Alan Cayetano should not restrict his colleagues' mandate to discuss and vote on the merits and demerits of 11 pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said Tuesday.

“If Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has personal grievances against ABS-CBN or objections against the renewal of the network's franchise, he can vote against the renewal but must allow members of the House to cast their respective conscience votes on the renewal,” Lagman said in a statement.

“Although Cayetano as Speaker [of the House] is considered primus interpares or first among equals, the other Representatives are his co-equals who should not be disenfranchised from seasonably voting on the proposed renewal. The Speaker cannot solely toll the death knell on bills or unduly delay the plenary deliberation on legislative measures. He has no monopoly over the fate of these measures,” Lagman added.

Cayetano had earlier claimed that ABS-CBN favored certain candidates in its coverage and in the airtime it allocated to candidates’ advertisements in the 2010 and 2016 elections, and as such Congress should not be rushed into discussing the pending bills seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal or it would be a case of railroading a measure.

Cayetano's life story was featured on an ABS-CBN show before the 2013 midterm polls, when Cayetano was seeking reelection as a Senator under the administration's Team PNoy banner.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises has yet to hear the 11 pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal despite these having been referred to the committee in August 2019.

ABS-CBN's franchise would expire on March 30.

With the future of ABS-CBN in limbo and the House not lifting a finger on pending bills seeking ABS-CBN's franchise renewal, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court.

The petition sought to revoke ABS-CBN's current franchise due to an alleged violation of the constitutional ban on foreign ownership of a media company through Philippine Depositary Receipts, and bypassing the National Telecommunications Commission in operating its pay-per-view and movie channels, among others allegations.

ABS-CBN has maintained that it had not violated any laws. — DVM, GMA News