SUPPORTERS of network giant ABS-CBN will have to tarry a little longer after House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, over the weekend declared that the granting of its new franchise will have to wait until the next Congress.
Velasco, who was initially perceived by many to be supportive of moves granting a new franchise to ABS-CBN, dashed the hopes of the network’s millions of supporters with his statement.
His declaration came a few days after President Rodrigo Duterte made clear his position on the matter by stating that he will not approve the network’s new franchise unless the Lopezes settle all their tax obligations.
Duterte, however, did not elaborate the back taxes that the Lopezes have to settle first, although it was a known fact that the family used to wield influence on many government officials and offices ,because oftheir media holdings.
Velasco, who until Thursday was mum about ABS-CBN, said in a statement that attempts to grant it a new franchise would have to wait until the next Congress as the House is prioritizing administration measures.
“With a little over a year until the 2022 elections, the House of Representatives is bent on finishing the remaining priority measures of this administration to ensure that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte fulfills his campaign promise to the Filipino people,” he said.
He added that on top of priority legislation, the House would also like to pass a third stimulus bill, dubbed Bayanihan 3 which he authored along with Rep. Stella Quimbo (Marikina), and other economic measures geared toward rebuilding the economy that has been decimated by the pandemic.
House legislative franchises committee chair Rep. Franz Alvarez (Palawan) issued a similar statement in January, saying that his panel’s decision in July 2020 to reject ABS-CBN’s application for a fresh franchise — widely viewed as an attack on press freedom — “has become final.”
In January, Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan party-list), who was among the lawmakers who led the charge against ABS-CBN, attempted to put the network’s franchise up to a plenary vote.
But this was averted by the House leadership by archiving the bill that sought to grant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise.