No special treatment for ABS-CBN franchise in Senate — Sotto

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Saturday said broadcast giant ABS-CBN will not be getting any special treatment at the upper chamber as he denied reports that the plenary session was stopped on Monday to make way to a committee hearing on the renewal of the media giant’s franchise to operate.

“Wala talaga ng [plenary] session ng Monday. Hindi yun [ABS-CBN franchise hearing] ang dahilan ah? May nabasa ako sa dyaryo kaya walang pasok sa Monday dahil sa ABS franchise. Hindi totoo ‘yun,” Sotto said in an interview with DWIZ.

(There was no plenary session on Monday. The ABS-CBN franchise hearing is not the reason. I read a news article that there is no session on Monday due to the ABS-CBN franchise. That is not true.)

“Ang ABS-CBN pareho ang trato namin sa GMA saka trato namin sa PTV 4 at Channel 5,” he added.

(We give equal treatments to ABS-CBN, GMA, PTV-4 and Channel 5.)

Sotto said the Senate session on Monday was canceled because the “period of amendments” is not ready.

Asked about Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri’s statement that Senate will defer its session to give way for the franchise renewal, Sotto said in jest: “Ano lang yun, collateral damage. [That is just collateral damage.]”

The Senate session will continue on Wednesday (Feb. 26) since on Feb. 25, the 34th EDSA People Power anniversary, is a national holiday.

The franchise hearing, which will be conducted by Sen. Grace Poe, will be held on Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. just a few weeks before the ABS-CBN franchise expires on March 30.

Edited by MUF