Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, on behalf of the House leadership, has unabashedly admitted that the ABS-CBN franchise hearings will go beyond the May 2020 presidential and general elections to force the network giant to observe “fair coverage” and not “interfere with the elections”.
Proffered alternative “reliefs” which are short of an actual renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise will not give succor to the network giant, its imperiled employees and the prejudiced viewing public.
The other suggested remedies are not legal and viable even as they will throw ABS-CBN to a quagmire of legal problems and will render it a tamed hostage waiting for the elusive renewal of its franchise which could take until after the May 2022 presidential and general elections.
Why go through the circuitous process of approving a joint resolution of dubious constitutionality or a concurrent resolution of lesser import extending the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation for a temporary and short period when its franchise can be renewed for another 25 years by congressional legislation which is the invariable and legal process?
To foreclose all conflicting views as to whether or not ABS-CBN Corporation can continue operations after the expiration of its legislative franchise in May 2020, the House of Representatives must forthwith act expeditiously and decisively on the 11 pending bills seeking the renewal of the network’s franchise.
As we celebrate the 34th anniversary of the EDSA People Power revolution, let us resist all attempts to suppress the freedoms of the press, expression, and dissent, which were all victims of the repressive martial law regime under the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
