When is ‘right timing’ to tackle ABS-CBN franchise? May or August, says Cayetano

House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano answers questions from the media in the Session hall of the Senate, in Pasay City. EDWIN BACASMAS

MANILA, Philippines — The question that many seem to ask is: When will the franchise renewal bid of media giant ABS-CBN be tackled?

For House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, the “right timing” would be in May or right after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (Sona).

“May or July. I’m sorry, or August, dahil dun na sa huling linggo ng July, more Sona ‘yun e. So right after Sona, objectively is early August,” Cayetano told reporters when asked about the possible schedule of the hearings on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

Cayetano said that he would rather tackle the measures seeking the network’s franchise renewal continuously than have it cut by the lower chamber’s scheduled breaks.

The lower chamber is scheduled to take a break on March 15.

“Hindi ito teleserye na magandang bitin. Kung maghi-hearing tayo ng dalawang linggo at kulang yang oras tapos magre-recess tayo o kalit hindi mag-recess o during recess mag-hearing, hindi mo naman maidadala sa plenaryo, walang mangyayari,” Cayetano said.

“Unlike teleserye na lamang ang network kapag maganda  ending at medyo bitin, hinahanap-hanap mo yung  season 2 e diba? Pero dito sa Kongeso, in my experience  mas mabuti na inumpisanahan natin tapusin na natin,” he added.

JE