ABS-CBN Franchise To Expire in May Not in March 2020, Guevarra Says

Justice Chief Guevarra Says ABS-CBN Franchise To Expire in May Not in March 2020

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra is claiming that the ABS-CBN Franchise will expire in May and not March 2020.

Over the past few weeks, ABS-CBN has become the headlines of local news outlets and social media pages as several lawmakers seek to shut down the network. The Kapamilya network has been also accused of violating the law.

However, the giant media company denied the accusations and explained that it did not violate the law. It also filed its official comment to the Supreme Court case.

ABS-CBN Franchise

On Monday (February 24, 2020), Menardo Guevarra said that Republic Act No. 7966 states that the Kapamilya network’s license to operate for 25 years took effect 15 days after its date of publication in 1995.

The Justice Chief said that the law has been enacted on March 30, 1995, but the company’s franchise was only published on April 19, 1995, during the Senate hearing regarding the network’s franchise.

“For that reason, the franchise will expire on May 4, 2020,” Guevarra said.

ABS-CBN Franchise

Guevarra also quoted Section 15 of RA 7966 stating “This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from the date of its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.”

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