Go sees politics behind filing of reso for ABS-CBN continued ops; Drilon denies

Senator Christopher ‘Bong’ Go said Wednesday he sees politics behind Minority Leader Franklin Drilon’s filing of resolution extending the operation of ABS-CBN Corporation.

Go said the resolution deprives President Rodrigo Duterte the power to approve or veto the franchise renewal of the broadcasting network.

“‘Yung resolution ni Sen. Drilon nahahaluan kasi ‘yun ng pulitika, bakit po natin ide-deprive sa Presidente ‘yung power to approve or veto. Siya po ang presidente ng bansa, authority n’ya ‘yun at karapatan n’yang aprubahan o i-veto ang franchise bill,” he told reporters.

“Bakit 2022, dahil tapos na po ang termino ni Pangulong Duterte? Sinasadya naman ‘yun at may halong…’yun siguro ang tinutukoy ni House Speaker (Alan Peter) Cayetano, talagang siya lang ang pogi dun,” he added.

He said he is more inclined to support the bill filed by Senator Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla Jr. seeking to extend ABS-CBN's franchise renewal until the end of the year.

“To give more time sa Kongreso kung ‘yun talaga ang kailangan, ako I will support hanggang katapusan ng taon kung wala silang panahon para sa pagdinig…sasang-ayon ako sa (bill) ni Revilla,” he said.

No politics involved

Sought for comment, Drilon denied politics is involved in the filing of the concurrent resolution.

“I regret the statement of Senator Bong Go. Being a neophyte senator, he may not be aware of our tradition and our rules. Precisely, a concurrent resolution does not go through the President because it has no force and effect of a law. It is just a sense of the Senate. There is no politics here,” he told reporters.

“We are not depriving the President of the right to veto or approve. The right to veto or approve is in the joint resolution (SJR 11) that I filed, which has the force and effect of a law and which is also filed in the House of Representatives,” he added.

In Concurrent Resolution 6, Drilon said with only eight session days remaining before Congress goes on a break starting March 13 and resume session on May 4 and the franchise of the television network set to expire on the same day, the Senate and House need additional time to discuss the television network’s renewal of franchise.

“Both the Senate and the House of Representatives need additional time to review and determine whether or not ABS-CBN Corporation shall be granted the renewal of its franchise,” he said.

He added no less than Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said a concurrent resolution may be in order for the NTC to allow ABS-CBN to operate when its franchise expires in May.

“Sec. Guevarra said that on grounds of equity, the ABS-CBN can continue. Again, this is an opinion expressed by no less than the secretary of justice, whose opinion is binding on the entire executive branch, so this must be extended due respect,” he said. 

Go clarification

In a press statement released later in the day, Go clarified that he was referring to the Joint Resolution filed by Drilon on February 17 seeking to extend the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation up to the end of 2022 and he has no opposition on the filing of concurrent resolution.

“Wala po akong pagtutol sa Concurrent Resolution na ito dahil karapatan naman ng Senado na mag-express ng kanilang sentimyento para hikayatin ang NTC na magbigay ng provisional authority habang pending pa sa Kongreso ang renewal ng franchise ng ABS-CBN. In fact, nagsulat na nga ang House of Representatives sa NTC para bigyan ng Provisional Authority ang ABS CBN,” he said.

Go said that if it is absolutely necessary to extend the existing franchise of ABS-CBN to give more time for Congress to act on its renewal, such extension must follow the legislative process for enacting franchise bills as provided in the Constitution.  — RSJ/KBK, GMA News