Senate may OK renewal of ABS-CBN franchise in 2 weeks, says Angara

MANILA, Philippines — The Senate may approve the renewal of ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise in just two weeks once the House of Representatives transmits the initial-proposed measure on it, Senator Sonny Angara said Wednesday.

In an online press briefing on Wednesday, Angara explained that the Senate just needs at least three days between the second and third readings if the bill is not certified as urgent by the President.

“Siguro mga (Maybe) two weeks is the fastest that the Senate can pass the committee report, starting from the time that it is sponsored on the floor by the chair to the 3rd reading,” he said, citing the possible scenario if there will not be too many questions from senators on the bill.

But when asked about how fast the House of Representatives can pass ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bill if it really wants to, Angara said the timeline depends on the congressmen.

“‘Yung House maraming klaseng tren ‘yan. Merong PNR train, ‘yung mabagal, meron din ‘yung bullet train. Depende ‘yan sa gugustuhin nila (House has many kinds of trains. It has a PNR train, the one that is slow, and also a bullet train. It depends on how fast they want it),” he explained.

He also said that should Duterte certify the bill as urgent, it can be approved in just one week or three session days.

There are at least 11 bills for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal that are pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, with the earliest filed in July 2019. The proposed measures would allow ABS-CBN a broadcast franchise for another 25 years.

ABS-CBN’ franchise lapsed Monday, May 4. The next day, the National Telecommunications Commission the media network giant to “cease and desist” from broadcasting on television and radio. ABS-CBN obliged and went off the air on Tuesday night.

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. In December 2019, Duterte said the television network should not expect its franchise to be renewed once it expires this year.

“If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan (franchise), I am sorry. I will see to it that you are out,” Duterte said.

(If you are expecting that your franchise will be renewed, I am sorry. I will see to it that you are out.)

Duterte’s beef against ABS-CBN stemmed from the broadcasting firm’s alleged failure to air his 2016 campaign ads and for alleged biased reporting.

Earlier Wednesday, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte remains “neutral” on the issue, and also urged members of Congress to vote on the franchise renewal “as conscience dictates.”

KGA

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