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Alan Cayetano asks public to understand House panel's vote to junk ABS-CBN franchise application

By LLANESCA T. PANTI,GMA News

Speaker Alan Cayetano has appealed to the public to understand the House panel's decision to reject ABS-CBN’s franchise application, adding that the committee considered the greater good.

“As the committee members have voted to deny the franchise application, the House Leadership asks that the people read the findings carefully in order to appreciate the reasons for their decision," Cayetano said.

"And for those who do not agree, at the least, understand why the decision had to be so,” he added.

“This has by no means been an easy process for anyone involved in these proceedings, and I can assure our kababayans that the final resolution was not arrived at by the Committee without serious consideration as to the overall impact it will have on the nation,” Cayetano added.

Cayetano also reiterated that while the House conducted a "fair, impartial, thorough and comprehensive hearing" on the franchise application of ABS-CBN corporation, there will always be those who would think otherwise.

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“Because of the highly partisan nature of this issue, we accepted from the start that there would be those who will vehemently disagree with the committee’s decision, no matter what they resolve,” he said..

Cayetano, however, said it is time to move on.

“I pray that despite our differences, we will eventually come to respect the decision of the committee and its members, and begin to move forward in rebuilding the relationships that have been strained by this issue,” Cayetano said.

ABS-CBN employs around 11,000 people.

The House rejection came more than two months after the network’s franchise lapsed on May 4. -NB, GMA News