Opposition solons lament House move to drop ABS-CBN provisional franchise bill

Opposition lawmakers on Tuesday expressed disappointment over the move of the House of Representatives to drop the bill granting ABS-CBN a provisional franchise and instead start hearing the measures giving the broadcast company another 25-year franchise.

In a statement, Albay Representative Edcel Lagman said he "bewails" what he called the abandonment of House Bill 6732, as it could have been an "ideal compromise" to allow ABS-CBN to immediately resume its broadcast operations while the House deliberates on the measures to renew the company's franchise.

"There is no overriding reason to abandon House Bill 6732 except for a furtive and sinister outside interference in the discharge of the constitutional duty of the House," he said.

"Forfeiting the approval of House Bill 6732 is a culpable waste of legislative work spanning almost a week which could have been devoted to equally important measures," he added.

Lagman also said the latest development in the House takes away the hope for the immediate resumption of ABS-CBN's broadcast operations for the benefit of the public and its 11,000 employees.

"This abandonment gravely compounds the inordinate delay in the consideration of ABS-CBN’s franchise while even as of now, the management of ABS-CBN Corporation has not been notified nor summoned to answer or traverse the purported violations of the network’s franchise," he added.

For her part, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas said she supported House Bill 6732 as it recognizes freedom of the process and the important role of the media in delivering information in times of pandemic.

She also hoped that with the passage of the measure, the chamber would be able internalize its sole power to decide on matters related to legislative franchises "without unnecessary delay and without any influence and string-pulling by the executive branch."

"We find it unfortunate however that the House leadership decided to drop the ABS-CBN provisional franchise bill, which it originally pushed, to usher in a marathon of hearings on the pros and cons of the franchise renewal. What the House did was to suspend the hopes of the 11,000 ABS-CBN workers in mid-air while the country’s largest network will remain off-air," Brosas said.

"Walang mawawala sa gobyerno at sambayanan sa ngayon kung hahayaan na makabalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN hanggang Oktubre. On the contrary, the House would be doing a disservice to the Filipino people if it will continue to sit on the network’s franchise, as millions of Filipinos in far-flung areas are deprived of vital news and information amid the pandemic," she added.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate, meanwhile, said he would have voted for the approval of House Bill 6732 had it not been dropped by its authors, as he is a firm advocate for free speech, freedom of the press, and access to information.

While he could no longer cast his favorable vote, Zarate nevertheless urged his colleagues in the House to immediately and urgently hear the bills granting ABS-CBN another 25-year franchise.

"We have to be reminded that Congress' own inaction has vast implications and consequences that may prejudice the electorate, our people, and worse, defeat Congress’ own powers and prerogatives," he said.

"We must act urgently on this matter, as we also similarly act with urgency on the other pressing matters related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the crisis it spawned," he added.

ABS-CBN went off air on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued it a cease and desist order to stop its broadcast operations.

Its franchise expired on May 4.

The broadcast company has since challenged the NTC's order before the Supreme Court. — BM, GMA News