Senate’s ABS-CBN franchise probe won’t clash with House action – solons

MANILA, Philippines — Two members of the House of Representatives recognized the prerogative of the Senate to conduct its own investigation on the compliance of ABS-CBN with its franchise.

Isabela Rep. Antonio Albano, vice chairperson of the House committee on legislative franchises, said the probe in the Senate “does not in any way conflict with our committee power to hear the same violations in our franchise committee.”

In a text message to INQUIRER.net, Albano said the merits of the Senate investigation will be treated as “additional information” when the House conducts public hearings on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.

This was seconded by Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Gabin Jr., also a member of the House committee tasked to tackle the franchise renewal of the country’s largest media network.

“That’s also their (Senate) prerogative to conduct a hearing regarding the issues involving the franchise of ABS-CBN. Prerogative nila ‘yun (That’s their prerogative) as a matter of legislative courtesy, I would say prerogative nila ‘yun (that’s their prerogative),” Garbin told House reporters.

Senator Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee, filed a resolution on Wednesday seeking 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.”

Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he will call for a caucus next week to discuss the said resolution.

At the House, 11 bills have been filed endorsing the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, which license to operate is set to lapse on March 30.

Despite this and growing calls for immediate House action, the committee on legislative franchises has yet to schedule a hearing on the matter.

Maintaining objectivity

In the Senate resolution, Poe cited the quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) which claimed that the media network giant violated terms in its legislative franchise.

Albano said he cannot “further comment on the ‘merits of the abuse’ that is allegedly being heard by Sen. Grace Poe because this will prejudice my judgment as a vice chairman of the [House] committee [on legislative franchises].”

“It’s only but fair to inhibit myself in reading any of the findings and statements made during such an investigation of the Senate, so I can maintain my objectivity regarding the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise,” Albano said.

“I even urge my colleagues in the House to try to refrain commenting on the ‘merits of the case’ of ABS-CBN, so that when we hear this ABS-CBN bill in the plenary to vote upon whether to renew or not to renew the ABS-CBN franchise, then we as a whole in Congress will not be accused of biases in our collective decisions,” the lawmaker added.

Edited by KGA