5 senators back issuing provisional permit for ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines — Five more senators want ABS-CBN  to continue its operations until Dec. 31, 2022, while the 18th Congress tackles the network’s franchise.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on May 4 this year.

Sen. Joel Villanueva said he and four other members of the so-called Seatmates in the Senate would file the resolution on Monday.

Aside from Villanueva,  the Seatmates group is composed of Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Sonny Angara, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Nancy Binay.

“For the sake of the 11,071 workers in ABS-CBN, we (Seatmates) will file a resolution to allow NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to give ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate pending the discussion of its franchise in the Congress,”  the five said in a joint statement.

“Seatmates will file a resolution supporting the extension of its franchise until December 31, 2022,”  they added.

In a Viber message to reporters, Villanueva insisted on the constitutional duty of Congress to hear the franchise application of the network.

Until now, however, the House of Representatives has yet to act on the franchise bills pending before its chamber.

“It’s clear that the Senate can have parallel hearings on the franchise provided we will not release a committee report while waiting for the House’s approved bill,” he said.

“Due process must prevail at all times,” he stressed.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon has also filed a concurrent resolution allowing the NTC to grant ABS-CBN provisional authority while the 18th Congress deliberates on the network’s franchise.

READ: Drilon files concurrent reso to allow ABS-CBN to operate pending franchise renewal

Congress will go on a break on March 12 and will resume its session on May 4, the same day the franchise of ABS-CBN expires.

/atm