Amid ABS-CBN franchise issue, here’s what the network can do if quo warranto succeeds.
ABS-CBN FRANCHISE – Amid the tough issues concerning ABS-CBN franchise renewal, Malacanang says something about SolGen’s quo warranto.
Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to scrap ABS-CBN’s franchise, country’s leading broadcast network. This is after his claims about the network’s engagement to “highly abusive practices” which was unnoticed for many years. Moreover, he said that the network went “beyond the scope of its legislative franchise for broadcasting for a fee.”
And now, as per the statement from the palace, the network can still easily file another application for a fresh license for operation if ever the petition to nullify the franchise from the Office of the Solicitor General will succeed. The petition is “much ado about nothing” for the network can just reapply.
As per ABS-CBN report, spokesman Salvador Panelo said, “It’s an independent move on the Solicitor General. The President doesn’t interfere with any departments unless there’s a complaint of corruption.”
Meanwhile, amid the tough issues regarding the network’s franchise renewal, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III said that ABS-CBN can still continue to operate until March 2022 even if the franchise is set to expire in March 2020.
He explained, “They can still operate. If it’s not approved March of 2022, that’s the only time that it’s terminated, As long as may naka file na (there is a filed) bill, it is deemed extended, naka-file (it’s filed) eh. It has happened so many times with other franchises,”
To recall, President Duterte vowed to close down the network after he accused them of not airing his campaign ads during the presidential election last 2016. He even urged the owners to just sell the network last December.
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