NUJP submits to House 200k signatures for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

NUJP Deputy Secretary Raymund Villanueva (left) and Secretary-General Dabet Panelo (right) submit the 200,000 signatures gathered in support of the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN to Makabayan bloc member Rep. Carlos Zarate on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020. (Photo by KATRINA HALLARE / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) on Wednesday submitted to the House of Representatives the 200,000 signatures they had collected calling for the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

NUJP Secretary-General Dabet Panelo and Deputy Secretary Raymund Villanueva personally submitted the signatures, in both hard and soft copies, to Makabayan bloc member Rep. Carlos Zarate.

The signatures, the NUJP said, were collected through actual gathering in Metro Manila and through the website change.org.

“The NUJP is undertaking this petition signing to show support to the authors of the 11 franchise bills and to urge the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises to schedule their discussion,” the NUJP said in a statement.

The group was referring to the 11 bills pending before the lower chamber which seek to renew the franchise of the media giant.

President Rodrigo Duterte has been vocal against the franchise renewal, accusing ABS-CBN of failubg to air his campaign ads during the 2016 presidential elections.

READ: Duterte renews threat to block ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Under Republic Act No. 3846, all radio and television networks must secure a franchise permit from Congress before they can operate.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire on March 30.

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