If Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has personal grievances against ABS-CBN or objections against the renewal of the network's franchise, he can vote against the renewal but must allow members of the House to cast their respective conscience votes on the renewal.
Cayetano must perforce direct the committee on legislative franchises to immediately deliberate on the eleven (11) pending bills proposing the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise and report out its recommendation for plenary discussion.
Although Cayetano as Speaker is considered primus interpares or first among equals, the other Representatives are his co-equals who should not be disenfranchised from seasonably voting on the proposed renewal. The Speaker cannot solely toll the death knell on bills or unduly delay the plenary deliberation on legislative measures. He has no monopoly over the fate of these measures.
Contrary to the claim of the House leadership, the House is not besieged by priority measures because only four bills have been prioritized so far and these are:
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The fifth tranche of the salary standardization law which is now R.A. 11466;
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Postponement of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections to December 5, 2022, which has been enacted into law as R.A. 11462;
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Creation of a department for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) which is pending sponsorship and the interpellations are about to be terminated this week; and
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Affording free legal services to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines where similar bills are pending before the committee on national defense and the committee on justice.
These four measures were prioritized by the Senate and House leaderships following the 2019 SONA of the President during the opening of the 18th Congress.
No other bills have been officially prioritized pending the convening of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), the meeting of which has long been overdue.
The House leadership is also requested not to pressure those who signed House Resolution No. 639 to withdraw their signatures.
House Resolution No. 639 urges the committee on legislative franchises to report out without further delay a consolidated bill on the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The signatories to the resolution do not challenge the House leadership but they want the House leadership and membership to exercise the sole congressional prerogative to grant and extend legislative franchises and to protect and uphold the freedom of the press and the freedom of expression.
Verified reports show that House leaders have been asking signatories to withdraw their support to Resolution No. 639.
EDCEL C. LAGMAN