Enrile attends House hearing on ABS-CBN franchise

Former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile. INQUIRER.NET FILE PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Heeding congressmen’s call, former Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile attended Wednesday’s hearing on media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year franchise.

Enrile was present through videoconferencing as the House committee on legislative franchises and the committee on good government and public accountability held its joint hearing under a hybrid set-up in compliance with health protocols amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

On Monday, Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor made the motion to invite Enrile in the hearings “to shed light on the history of ABS-CBN” as lawmakers tackled the constitutionality of the acquisition of the Lopez family of the network following the 1986 EDSA Revolution.

Defensor believes that Enrile has “first-hand knowledge [of] what really transpired” in the history of ABS-CBN.

According to lawmakers, Enrile was the one who executed the sequestration order to ABS-CBN and other broadcasting companies during the Marcos regime.

ABS-CBN counsel Arecio Rendor Jr. earlier underscored the constitutionality of the reclamation of the Lopezes of ABS-CBN following the Marcos regime.

Rendor said that the Lopez family never lost ownership of ABS-CBN despite its shut down in 1972 due to the declaration of martial law by former president Ferdinand Marcos.

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