MANILA, Philippines — Senators on Thursday backed a resolution seeking to conduct an inquiry into the franchise compliance of media giant ABS-CBN.
Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, filed a resolution on Wednesday which seeks to look into “the operations of ABS-CBN Corporation to determine compliance with the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act No. 7966.”
In a message to reporters on Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said he would support Poe’s resolution.
“Congress, not the Supreme Court, is the body that has jurisdiction to review compliance by ABS-CBN of the terms of the franchise granted by Congress, especially that there are pending bills seeking renewal of the franchise,” Drilon, a former justice secretary, said.
“The Senate, under the Poe Resolution, is simply being called to exercise its oversight functions. The hearings on the Poe Reso will enable the Senate to make a judgment on the proposed renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise when it is transmitted by the House,” he added.
Drilon pointed out that should the hearing be conducted, it would not be a violation of the sub-judice rule.
Earlier this week, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed the petition before the Supreme Court seeking to nullify ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Calida cited “highly abusive practices” of the network “benefiting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers.”
ABS-CBN, however, has maintained it did not violate any law governing its franchise and that it had secured all necessary approvals for its business operations.
“Congress is a co-equal branch simply performing its mandated and independent oversight functions in looking at the compliance of ABS-CBN of the terms of the franchise,” Drilon went on.
For her part, Senator Imee Marcos said she sees no problem if the Senate would look into the compliance of ABS-CBN with its franchise, which will expire by March 30, 2020.
“Palagay ko okay naman yun,” Marcos told reporters in an interview.
(I think that would be okay).
“Alam naman natin na yung Senate inquiry iba naman ang pakay: in aid of legislation. Para baguhin ang franchise law, para baguhin yung mga telecoms and NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) Act at hindi naman nage-ending sa kaso yan. Samanatalang finile ng ating SolGen, sa kaso naman yan,” she pointed out.
(We know that in a Senate inquiry, it aims for a different outcome: in aid of legislation. So we can tweak the franchise law, the telecoms and NTC Act and it does not intend to end in filing a case. Meanwhile, the one filed by the SolGen is a case).
In a separate interview with media, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian also expressed support for the proposed inquiry on the network’s franchise.
“Ito ay parte ng oversight functions ng Senado. This is a good venue para makita natin kung merong katotohanan yung kanilang allegations,” he said.
(This is part of the oversight functions of the Senate. This is a good venue so we can see whether or not the allegations (against ABS-CBN) hold true).
Bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN are currently pending in the House of Representatives.