Zubiri to House solons: Let ABS-CBN reform instead of shutting it down

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Thursday said he is confident that ABS-CBN's franchise will be renewed if the House of Representatives would decide on the matter through a conscience vote.

Zubiri made the observation in light of the statement made by Speaker Alan Cayetano that House members should exercise conscience vote in voting for or against the ABS-CBN franchise application.

“Kung conscience vote, wala akong kilalang kongresista na willingly papatayin ang isang institusyon na mawawalan ng trabaho ang 11,000 kababayan natin,” Zubiri said at a virtual forum.

“Kung conscience vote ‘yan, I believe, mabibigyan ng franchise,” Zubiri added.

Zubiri said that having ill-feelings about ABS-CBN’s reports is not a basis to put its employees out of work.

“Let us reform the franchise. Ako rin, may hinanakit at tampo sa ABS nung 2013, but that doesn’t mean I want them to shut down,” Zubiri said.

“Ilagay natin sa prangkisa na kapag nakabayad na kayo ng patalastas ay ipalabas. Otherwise, magiging violation of their franchise. Iyon po sana ang apela ko sa mga kasamahan. Iyon po ang apela ko, that is the way to reform rather than destroy the lives of many,” Zubiri added.

Zubiri was referring to paid campaign ads of politicians which have been unaired by the network due to lack of airtime available.

Based on data from Philippine Statistics Authority, over seven million Filipinos already lost jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic which requires physical distancing and prohibits mass gathering.

At least 11 bills seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal are pending in the House of Representatives since July 2019.

ABS-CBN's franchise lapsed last May 4. 

Subsequently, ABS-CBN went off-air last May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the broadcast network for lack of franchise.

NTC’s May 5 action was a turnaround from NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba’s statement before the House of Representatives in March that they will issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN given that the House and the Senate made communications stating they are in favor of such issuance.

Also in December 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte had said that, “Next year…I will see to it that you’re out,” in reference to ABS-CBN. -MDM, GMA News