Albano on ABS-CBN franchise: ‘Please do not pressure us so much’

MANILA, Philippines — Admitting that they were receiving pressure from both those in support and against the renewal of franchise of ABS-CBN, the vice-chairperson of the House panel tasked to tackle the extension of the network’s broadcasting right has one request: “Please do not pressure us so much.”

Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano, who serves as the vice-chairperson of the House committee on legislative franchises, made the call Wednesday as the clock ticked before the expiration of ABS-CBN’s franchise on March 30.

“My statement and the Speaker’s statement, and the House of Representatives’ statement and Chairman Chikoy Alvarez’s statement is that please, do not pressure us so much because we are taking pressures from both sides of the aisle—no less than the President and even networks and even journalists are giving us tremendous pressure,” Albano said in a press briefing.

Such pressure, Albano said, would create biases among members of their committee.

“If there are biases, then we will not be able to do our good job in determining whether or not we should permit and allow again ABS-CBN—it’s the franchise to be renewed,” the lawmaker added.

Asked to detail about the said pressure, Albano said they are receiving pressure from both those for and against the franchise renewal.

“It is such a fact and everyone knows that we have pressures coming in from both sides of the realm—pros and cons. Even pressures from journalists like you and especially for ABS-CBN, it is normal to have all these pressures given the sides that you are fighting for,” Albano said.

“If you’re against ABS-CBN, especially the pressure coming from no less than the President and now the Solicitor General and other politicians and senators doing backdoor channeling, syempre ayaw nila magpa-identify ( of course, they don’t want to be identified),” he added.

Republic Act No. 3846 requires television and radio broadcasting companies to secure a franchise from the government before they are allowed to operate. It is Congress that will decide whether to extend the franchise to public utilities, such as the media.

Currently, there are at least 11 bills filed in the House seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, which is one of the biggest media outlets in the country. Its franchise is set to expire on March 30.

But despite the number of bills filed in support of the renewal of the media giant’s franchise, the House committee on legislative franchises has yet to tackle the issue.