Ang kapalaran ng panibagong panukalang batas na layong bigyan ng panibagong broadcast franchise ang ABS-CBN Corp ay “sole constitutional prerogative” aniya ng Kongreso, giit ng Malacañang noong Martes.

Inihain ni Senate President Vicente Sotto III noong Lunes ang isang bill na layuning bigyan ng 25-year license ang pinakamalaking broadcaster ng bansa, habang binanggit na “TV stations have been replacing their news programs with animes.”

Ayon naman kay Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, papasa lamang ang nasabing bill kung susuportahan ito ng Malacañang.

“I beg to differ,” pagtanggi naman ni Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque sa naging pahayag ni Recto.

“That is a sole constitutional prerogative of Congress which must originate from the House of Representatives,” paliwanag nito.

“ABS-CBN’s wide reach to Filipinos, alongside with the undeniable advantages of broadcast media relative to mass communication, definitely call for the immediate renewal of the network’s franchise,” giit naman ni Sotto. 

Samantala, nagbabalak naman si Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto na maghain ng kaparehong bill sa Kamara upang ibalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN.

“We need to start rebuilding our economy,” pahayag ni Santos-Recto.

Dagdag pa ng kongresista, “Through this bill, we will be creating jobs (so many people do not have jobs today) and help promote healthy competition among the networks.” 

Binanggit ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte noong 2019 na titiyakin niyang magiging “out” ang ABS-CBN dahil sa hindi pag-ere ng network ng kanyang election ads noong 2016.

Gayunpaman, idinistansya ang pangulo ng kanyang mga kaalyado mula sa isyu ng pagtanggi sa franchise renewal ng network.