Give ABS-CBN permit, Senate bloc urges NTC

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the so-called “Seatmates” bloc in the Senate on Monday urged their fellow legislators to authorize the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to temporarily allow broadcast giant ABS-CBN to operate pending the renewal of its legislative franchise.

In a concurrent resolution, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Sherwin Gatchalian, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay and Juan Edgardo Angara also sought the support of the House of Representatives in expressing the “sense of Congress” on the divisive issue.

Zubiri et al.’s resolution were seeking the extension of ABS-CBN’s franchise only until the end of the 18th Congress on June 30, 2022.