NILINAW ni House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chairman Franz Alvarez na wala nang pag-asa na maisulong pa ang franchise ng ABS-CBN ngayong 18th Congress.
Ito’y kahit pa naghain ng kani-kanilang bersyon ng ABS-CBN Franhise bills sila Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos Recto at Camarines Sur 3rd District Rep. Gabriel Bordado.
Ayon kay Alvarez, malinaw ang pasya ng komite nang ibasura nito ang franchise application ng TV Network.
Giit nito na 70 kongresista ang bumoto pabor para patayin ito sa committee level.
“The ABS-CBN franchise issue was put to rest when the Committee, voting 70-11, rejected the network’s franchise application on July 10, 2020,” pahayag ni Alvarez.
Pero may pagkakataon pa sanang e-apela ng kahit sino sa 70 kongresista na bumoto laban sa ABS-CBN franchise ang desisyon ng komite.
Subalit, wala aniya sa mga ito ang naghain ng motion for reconsideration sa komite para iprotesta ang desisyon.
“Under the rules, anyone of the 70 House members who voted against the franchise application could file a motion for reconsideration on behalf of ABS-CBN to challenge the decision of the Committee,” ayon kay Alvarez.
Dahil dito, ganap na naging pinal na ang pasya sa committee level.
“Unfortunately, there was none, thus the Committee decision has become final,” aniya pa.
Dahil rin dito, giit ni Alvarez na wala nang pag-asa ang network ngayong 18th Congress.
Aniya, batay raw pahiwatig ng House Leadership, mas mainam na sumubok nalamang ang ABS-CBN sa susunod na kongreso.
“Based on my understanding from the House leadership, the ABS-CBN franchise issue is best left to the next Congress,” ayon kay Alvarez.
Suportado naman ni Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor ang posisyon ni Chairman Chikoy.
Kaya naman nais raw ni Defensor na tanggalin ang unfinished portion sa ABS-CBN franchise bill sa plenaryo.
“I agree with Chairman Alvarez and I support his position. That is why once and for all we have to take it out of the unfinished business portion of the agenda,” pagsang-ayon ni Defensor.
Ayon naman kay Alvarez, ang nasabing unfinished business ay ang House Bill 6732 na layong bigyan ng provisional franchise ang ABS-CBN hanggang October 31, 2020.
Subalit ito aniya ay moot and academic na dahil paso na ang sana’y effectivity ng panukala.
“The subject matter of the unfinished business in the plenary is House Bill 6732, which seeks to grant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise effective until October 31, 2020. Obviously, this is already moot and academic,” dagdag pa ni Alvarez.
