Congressmen should be accountable to constituents for failure to act yet on ABS-CBN franchise, Palace says

February 26, 2020

Malacañang said on Wednesday members of the House of Representatives who refused to discuss yet the franchise of ABS-CBN should be accountable to their constituents.

In a press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he could not also understand why Congress has to pass a resolution first instead of just passing a law granting or renewing the franchise of the television firm.

"They should be accountable to the people. They’re supposed to represent their districts, so they will have to account for their constituents why they have not done anything of this particular subject matter," said Panelo, who is also the chief presidential legal counsel.

"I understand there is a move for a joint—or concurrent resolution or extension...I cannot understand why they cannot pass a law on either the renewal of the—or grant of a franchise whether with respect to ABS-CBN or other pending applicants. Because the vote needed for a resolution is a majority vote. The vote needed for passing a law is also a majority vote," he added.

He noted that a resolution is not binding and effective as law.

While there are several bills pending in the House, it has yet to deliberate the petition by ABS-CBN for renewal of its franchise, which will expire on March 30.

Panelo reiterated that President Rodrigo Duterte has nothing to do with the quo warranto filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida seeking to revoke ABS-CBN's franchise nor with Congress' failure to act yet on the renewal of franchise.

"The franchise renewal of ABS-CBN has been there, filed in 2014 prior to the assumption of this President. So, there is no way by which anybody can be blaming this President for the inaction of Congress whether the previous Congress or the present Congress. The grant and renewal lies mainly and exclusively with Congress," he said.

Panelo also clarified Senator Christopher "Bong" Go's earlier statement that he would appeal to the President in relation to ABS-CBN.

He said the appeal has nothing to do with the franchise per se.

"He will appeal to the President not to get mad anymore with ABS-CBN, nothing to do with the renewal...you remember the premise of his remarks were to the fact that the President's anger was not shallow, he has his own reason," Panelo explained.

Duterte was complaining about ABS-CBN's failure to air his campaign ads despite payment during the 2016 elections while the network allowed the airing of then opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV "maligning" him.

He also accused the television network of "swindling" for not refunding his payment over the unaired ads.

During a recent Senate hearing, ABS-CBN Corp. president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak apologized to Duterte if they offended him.

He said that ABS-CBN refunded Duterte's camp P4 million from the supposed P7-million worth of local ads.

He admitted that there was a delay in reimbursing the remaining amount. But Duterte reportedly did not accept anymore the remaining P2.6 million in ad money. Celerina Monte/DMS