CBCP exec to House members: Vote according to conscience on ABS-CBN franchise

A Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) official has urged the House of Representatives' franchise committee to vote according to their conscience on the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise.

In an open letter, Episcopal Commission on Social Communications chairman  Marcelino Antonio Maralit Jr. said the resource speakers in 12 House hearings  "did not only answer the accusations against the network, but also proved that the network has not violated any law, rule or regulation that would be reason enough not to grant the renewal of their franchise."

"Be that as it may, it is not our intention to pressure you, our honorable lawmakers, to vote for the approval of the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN," Maralit said.

"The only thing that we humbly ask of you is that you vote according to your conscience and do what you truly believe is right," he said.

Maralit said ABS-CBN "forms part of the whole Philippine democratic landscape" and that the votes of the legislative franchise committee will affect not only the network's future but also its employees and viewers.

"We are aware that there is so much more at stake here than the mere approval of a network franchise," he said.

The House has formed a technical working group (TWG) to study and draft recommendations to the bills seeking to grant ABS-CBN another franchise.The output of the TWG is scheduled to be presented in the meeting of the House legislative franchise Friday afternoon.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate on Thursday said the House panel's marathon hearings were not able to find evidence to show that ABS-CBN violated the Constitution and other laws.

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, on the other hand, claimed that the network committed violations.

Zarate and Marcoleta were the two lawmakers who gave a summation of the issues and findings in the 12 hearings on the ABS-CBN franchise issue.

ABS-CBN's previous franchise expired last May 4. The following day, the National Telecommunications Commission ordered it to cease the operations of several of its television and radio stations.

ABS-CBN has questioned the legality of the cease and desist order before the Supreme Court. — Nicole-Anne C. Lagrimas/RSJ, GMA News