Cayetano willing to go to jail over ABS-CBN continued ops even with expired franchise

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday he is willing to be jailed over his stand that ABS-CBN can continue to operate under a provisional authority even after its franchise had expired.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises earlier wrote the National Telecommunications Commission to enjoin it to issue a provisional authority for ABS-CBN while the House of Representatives tackles bills on the network’s franchise renewal.

“Sa tingin namin, ang pinaka-simple, pinaka-straightforward, pinaka-unquestionable is yung aming sulat enjoining the NTC to do it,” Cayetano told reporters.

“Kung may gustong mag-question, kuwestiyunin ninyo na lang yung aksiyon namin sa korte,” Cayetano added.

The House leader also said that it would be best, however, if they are just allowed to conduct hearings on the issue.

The earliest schedule, Cayetano said, would be in May this year.

The franchise of ABS-CBN expires on May 4.

“Kung may makukulong sa ABS-CBN dahil nagbo-broadcast sila habang naghi-hearing kami, eh di samahan ko sila sa kulungan. Ikulong ninyo na rin ako dahil ako nakapirma sa sulat e,” Cayetano said.

Cayetano said he and House legislative franchises panel chair Franz Alvarez will meet on Monday or Tuesday next week to ensure that the instruction to the NTC is clear and to make an assessment on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal issue before they go on their Lenten break.

'Ang message ko lang, we're not taking any chances here but nor are we letting ABS off the hook just like that because it's not about the president, 'di ba? it's really about the responsibility of a network if we give them a 25-year franchise," he added. — with Erwin Colcol/RSJ/BM, GMA News