MANILA, Philippines (Updated) — With just three session days left, the Senate adopted on Wednesday a resolution that seeks to allow ABS-CBN and its subsidiaries to operate while the 18th Congress tackles its franchise.
No senator objected when Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved to adopt the resolution initiated by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon “taking into consideration” three other similar resolutions filed in the chamber.
READ: Drilon files resolution extending ABS-CBN franchise until 2022
“For the record, almost every senator has authored these resolutions, with all these four resolutions on the table. Almost all,” Zubiri said.
“With that, I move to adopt proposed Senate Resolution No. 6 taking into consideration (resolutions) 7, 8 and 344 as amended, subject to style,” he added.
Before the approval, Senator Francis Pangilinan manifested on the floor that he was not an author or co-author of any of the resolutions despite the fact that his wife, Megastar Sharon Cuneta, is a contract artist of ABS-CBN.
“Kahit na po mawala ang ABS-CBN, palagay ko hindi naman ho gugutumin ang ating butihing maybahay at kabiyak. Ngunit gaya nga ng nabanggit kanina, ‘yung mga maliliit na manggagawa ng estasyon ang maaapektuhan,” Pangilinan, an opposition member, said.
“Hindi lamang po ito. Ang buong bansa ay maaapektuhan ‘pag nawala po ang ABS-CBN dahil milyun-milyon ang umaasa sa ABS-CBN kapag mayroon pong bagyo, kapag mayroon pong pagputok ng bulkan, pagka mayroon pong trahedya o kaya kalamidad.”
“The right to information as well as the freedom of the press, Mr. President, is likewise an issue here. Just for the record, Mr. President,” Pangilinan added.
Senator Manny Pacquiao agreed with Pangilinan, saying thousands of ABS-CBN workers would starve if the franchise is not renewed.
In fact, he said, the uncertainty of their future while waiting for the franchise renewal is already “torturing” the workers.
Several other senators also manifested their support for ABS-CBN’s continued operations.
READ: 13 senators back ABS-CBN continued operations
The approval of the resolution came just days before Congress goes on recess on March 12. It will resume its session on May 4, the same day the network’s franchise expires.
Under the Constitution, the approval of a legislative franchise must emanate from the House of Representatives.
Until now, however, the lower chamber has yet to hold a public hearing on pending bills, seeking to renew the ABS-CBN’s franchise for another 25 years.
House leaders though, in a letter sent late last month, urged the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant the network and its subsidiaries provisional authority to operate, effective on May 4, 2020, “until such time that the House of Representatives/Congress has made a decision on its application.”
Once approved by Congress, the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN will be transmitted to President Rodrigo Duterte for signature.
READ: House sends letter urging NTC to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN