With different government agencies and regulatory bodies having testified that broadcast giant ABS-CBN had complied with the country’s laws and regulations governing it, House Minority Leader Benny Abante Jr. voted to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise, stressing in his vote the importance of elevating the decision to grant the network a new franchise to all members of Congress.
“May mga pagkakataon sa ating tungkulin na tayo ay titimbangin ng panahon at susukatin sa ating paninindigan,” said Abante.
It was clear that ABS-CBN had not broken any of the country’s laws.
“I vote to grant the franchise of ABS-CBN.”
The lawmaker from Manila pointed out that the House had called different government agencies and other governing bodies regarding various issues concerning ABS-CBN, and that based on their testimonies it was clear that ABS-CBN had not broken any of the country’s laws.
“Sabi ng BIR, bayad ang kanilang buwis. Sabi ng SEC, aprubado ang kanilang PDRs. Sabi ng DOLE, sinunod ng ABS-CBN lahat ng compliance orders na ibinigay sa kanila,” stressed the solon.
Aside from these issues, the legislator said that he was convinced that the evidence showed that ABS-CBN Chairperson Emeritus Eugenio Gabriel “Gabby” López III is a Filipino citizen and that the Lopez family never lost ownership of ABS-CBN.
“Sa issue ng pag-blocktime nila sa AMCARA, sinabi na ng KBP na maari nila itong gawin. Hindi rin ito isang practice na esklusibong ginagawa ng ABS-CBN. Ginagawa din ito ng iba pang broadcasting network,” added Abante.
The representative from Manila emphasized that it was important to approve the franchise at the Committee level in order to be able to elevate the discussions regarding the franchise to the plenary.
The House leader said that members of the House “must all be heard on this issue.”
“Members of the House must all be heard on this issue.”
“Wag nating tapusin sa level lang ng committee. Let us vote to approve the franchise so this matter may be elevated from the committee into the plenary.”
With unemployment also rising and jobs already in short supply, the Minority Leader also expressed concern for the 11,000 workers who would lose their jobs should ABS-CBN close.
“Joblessness is at an all-time high because of the COVID-19 outbreak, and it does not make sense to deprive 11,000 workers of their livelihoods—11,000 families of sources of income,” he said.
Abante explained that while he had some issues with some of the content aired on the network, he acknowledged that ABS-CBN was a source of entertainment and informed for millions of Filipinos, especially those living abroad.
The pastor said that “Filipino television as a whole really needs more family-friendly programming that extols Filipino values, and this includes ABS-CBN; but their other shows do entertain and inform many of our countrymen, and for that they should be allowed to continue to operate.”
“Ngayon ang panahon para manindigan at ang boses natin ay marinig ng taong bayan. Tayong lahat ang kanilang ibinoto at pinag katiwalaan. Hindi ang iilan lamang. Ngayon ang panahon para tayo ay magkaisa at manindigan. Dahil kung hindi ngayon, kailan pa? Kung hindi tayo, sino pa?”