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Rep. Rodante Marcoleta claims that ABS-CBN didn’t comply with franchise terms and laws

House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta accused ABS-CBN of violating not just its franchise terms and conditions but also the Philippine constitution.

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  • Netizens have pointed out that most of the matters Marcoleta discussed have already been resolved in the previous hearing.
  • ABS-CBN has reportedly been losing Php30 million to Php35 million per day since it went off-air on May 5.

Despite the clarification regarding ABS-CBN’s alleged non-compliance with its franchise terms and conditions during the Senate hearing in February, House Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta once again brought the accusations to light when he claimed that the network did not comply with its franchise terms as well as existing laws in the Constitution.

He made the statement during the hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises and the House committee on good government and public accountability on the proposals seeking to grant a full 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN.

“In fact, they will show in the succeeding hearings in the committee of legislative franchises that ABS-CBN deliberately and with impunity violated the conditions of its legislative franchise, and more so of our laws and our Constitution,” he said.

Marcoleta added that the network’s previous franchise supposedly lasted longer than the constitutionally-mandated 50-year period.

“The ABS-CBN has been using the airwaves for more than 50 years, 53 years today to be exact. Our Constitution says that Congress can grant a franchise of up to 50 years only. The committee on the legislative franchise should not allow itself to be used by ABS-CBN to again circumvent the Constitution and violate the categorical 50-year limitation imposed on franchises.”

He also cited that the network violated the law that requires 100 percent Filipino ownership and management of mass media companies as ABS-CBN’s former president, Eugenio Lopez III, was an American citizen when he ran the company.

Adding to that, Marcoleta said that the network committed unfair labor practices which denies its employees the benefits required by the law.

“ABS-CBN has not regularized its contractual workers and talents despite performing the functions of regular workers… Hindi po maikakaila sa publiko na napakarami ng labor cases na hinarap at haharapin pa ng ABS-CBN. Ang masaklap pa dito, ni hindi nagbibigay ang ABS-CBN ng contribution sa benefits.”

Netizens and Kapamilya personalities slammed Marcoleta’s accusations. Broadcaster Karen Davila questioned the congressman’s statement saying that GMA-7 has been operating for 59 years yet its franchise was renewed.

https://twitter.com/iMelAljon/status/1265167645340385281

A Twitter user also mentioned the duration of which other channels have aired.

“Baka di mo ‘to nabasa about the issue of having multiple channels using one franchise.”

Employees of ABS-CBN also deemed Marcoleta’s statements as false and “outdated.”

https://twitter.com/MrsOhLoisyyy/status/1265171983987167233

Other netizens called him out for using Kim Chiu and celebrities’ videos during the hearing.

“Bobo ka, Marcoleta.”

A netizen pointed out that Marcoleta has been repeating allegations against the network that have already been answered.

Others have also informed him that most of his concerns are already resolved in the previous hearing.

https://twitter.com/irenebartssss/status/1265180575272321024

ABS-CBN has been off the air since they received a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission on May 5.

ABS-CBNABS-CBN FranchiseEugenio Lopez IIIGMA-7Karen DavilaKim ChiuMarcoleta states that ABS-CBN didn't comply with franchise terms and lawsNational Telecommunications CommissionNTCRodante MarcoletaSAGIP Partylist

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