These 13 Senators took a step regarding the ABS-CBN franchise issue
13 Senators filed a bill seeking to provide provisional franchise to ABS-CBN after its franchise expired on May 4 and the National Telecommunications Commission ordered the network to stop its broadcast.
These past few days, the online community has been buzzing about the signing off of the biggest TV network in the Philippines. Several prominent individuals and groups have aired their sentiments regarding this issue.
Some pointed the blame to the NTC while some blamed Solicitor General Jose Calida for wanting so badly to end the broadcast of ABS-CBN just like Kapamilya broadcaster Korina Sanchez. On the other hand, there were those who put the blame to Congress for allegedly not doing anything regarding this matter.
In a previous report, ABS-CBN already filed a petition to the Supreme Court against the cease and desist order from NTC. On May 11, the petition has been raffled off to justice in charge however, the result was not released by the SC.
On Monday also, 13 Senators filed a bill to grant ABS-CBN the provisional franchise. In the documents signed by the lawmakers, they cited the reasons why the TV network should be given the right to broadcast again while Congress is given the time to deliberate on its franchise renewal.
It was stated that as ABS-CBN is one of the biggest TV networks in the country, stopping its broadcast would “imperil the advertising industry”. The document also stated the taxes that the network pay and closing it will impact the economy.
Here are the 13 Senators who filed the bill:
- Manuel ‘Lito’ Lapid
- Franklin Drilon
- Ralph Recto
- Richard Gordon
- Sherwin Gatchalian
- Joel Villaneuva
- Juan Miguel Zubiri
- Sonny Angara
- Maria Lourdes Nancy Binay
- Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla, Jr.
- Risa Hontiveros
- Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan
- Emmanuel ‘Manny’ Pacquiao
Here’s the copy of the bill courtesy of Inquirer.
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