Congress is mandated do determine whether legislative franchises should be approved or not, and it should be given the opportunity to do so in the case of ABS-CBN.
This was the gist of a statement issued by Laguna 3rd District Rep. Sol Aragones on Tuesday after the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) filed a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court to revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN for allegedly violating the terms set by Congress when it approved the media giant’s franchise in 1995.
“(This) includes several bills seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise now pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.”
“We recognize that it is the duty of the Office of the Solicitor General to take legal action when it determines that laws and statutes have been violated, and respect its decision to file a case before the Supreme Court in connection with issues pertaining to the legislative franchise of ABS-CBN,” said Aragones.
However, the lawmaker pointed out: “That the members of the House of Representatives are prepared to tackle the issues raised by the OSG as part of our mandate to study and evaluate all matters involving the renewal of legislative franchises.”
This, said Aragones, “includes several bills seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise now pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.”
“Handa po kami gawin ang trabaho namin dito sa Kongreso. Sana po bigyan kami ng pagkakataon himayin at busisiin itong pag-renew ng franchise ng ABS-CBN bago po dalhin sa korte ang isyu na ito.”
The legislator earlier revealed that at least 11 representatives in the House have filed measures seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, which will expire on March 30.