All parties must be heard on the subject of the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise – Villafuerte

MANILA – Vice President Luis Raymund Villafuerte assured on Wednesday that due process will be given to all parties once the Committee on the Chamber of Legislative Franchises begins to listen to the issue of the ABS-CBN franchise.

“Important at this point, ABS and other sectors must receive due process. Can we resolve due process within 9 days? That will be decided when we start the hearing. Kung mabitin, we will decide. Do we provide a provisional franchise or not?” Puwede, possible ‘yan but I can’t speak for the franchise committee. I can’t speak for other members, “he said.

In the ANC Headstart via Zoom, Villafuerte said a provisional franchise is possible for ABS-CBN given that Congress only has about nine days of session left or until June 3 before it takes a break, but the majority must decide.

“We are open and consider all proposals, whether provisional, if we listen and simply give 25 [years]. We want to make it clear that franchising is really a privilege, not a right. When we listen to it, it doesn’t automatically mean it would be approved for a period of time, “he said.

He added: “Options: you can approve, you can deny, you can grant a provisional franchise until 2022 … more, shorter … all of that is on the table. We have been discussing that for the last few years. Days.”

President Alan Peter Cayetano previously said it was “absolutely necessary” for Congress to listen to the network franchise problem, but it would not mean automatic renewal.

Villafuerte said that the representative of Palawan, Franz Álvarez, president of the Committee of the Chamber of Legislative Franchises, must decide the date of the hearing.

“I can’t get ahead, but maybe next week will be a good time. Is it a new franchise, a revamp, ba? Do we listen to NTC first? But ba uunahin namin to talk about? It’s really a controversial topic that won’t leave us. influencing pressure from everyone around us. We will do the right thing, “Villafuerte said.

Villafuerte said the hearings will address labor, tax issues against the Kapamilya network and also shed light on the issue of citizenship for its president emeritus, Gabby López.

“Maraming issues that have to be resolved and for once, this has to be resolved for any decision that Congress will make wala nang divisionism, narinig na lahat,” he said.

He also added that they wanted the network to still be on the air while listening to their franchise problem. However, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has acted against this by issuing a cease and desist order on May 5, a day after the network franchise expired.

“I think the franchise committee has issued a just cause order to the NTC. They have to explain. They cannot lie in Congress. They cannot lie in the Senate. They assured us that they will issue a temporary permit to operate and were also surprised when they issued a cessation and they gave up, “he said.

Villafuerte said that NTC commissioner Gamaliel Córdoba can be charged with contempt and perjury for his actions.

“At a hearing, under oath, he said he will issue. Dapat hindi siya makawala, is a government official. He cannot make statements under oath at hearings not only in Congress but also in the Senate, then not follow him. I think he has have to answer that, “he said.

ABS-CBN has asked the Supreme Court to stop the NTC closure order, but Villafuerte said the network should not have stopped operations while filing for a temporary restraining order with the Superior Court.

“For me, I was able to naman silang hindi muna nag-stop and then screw up TRO file. If I was ABS, I am not telling them to break the law, they voluntarily stopped operations and then filed a TRO with the Supreme Court. I think that They should file a TRO and continue to operate, that’s just my opinion, “he said.