Duterte unlikely to block provisional franchise for ABS-CBN —Palace

President Rodrigo Duterte will not likely oppose the granting of a provisional franchise for ABS-CBN so that it could resume its free TV and radio broadcast.

Duterte’s spokesperson Harry Roque said the Palace respects the decision of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to pass on second reading House Bill 6732, which gives the network a temporary license that will be valid until October 31, 2020.

The provisional franchise will allow ABS-CBN to operate while the House and the Senate are still deliberating on the issues that surrounded the renewal of the previous franchise, and whether or not it should be given a fresh 25-year franchise.

“We respect the functioning of Congress as a co-equal branch of government. We leave it to the leadership of the House and the members on how they will go about with this bill,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview on ANC.

"For as long as there is no constitutional infirmity, I don't see any reason why the President should veto, especially if the franchise is for a very limited period of time.”

Roque gave a similar statement last week when asked during a news conference whether the President will approve or reject the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

He also maintained that Duterte is neutral on the franchise issue despite the President’s past grievances, particularly on the unaired campaign advertisements in 2016.

ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission told it to stop broadcasting because its franchise had expired. —LDF, GMA News