MANILA, Philippines — The franchise of ABS-CBN is a matter of privilege and should not be linked to press freedom, which is a matter of right, a ranking lawmaker in the House of Representatives said yesterday. “The issue involves the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. “We should all be reminded that under the law, the grant of a franchise is not a right, but a privilege,” Alvarez pointed out. Can ABS-CBN credibly defend its privilege of being granted a renewal of its franchise? 3846, radio and television broadcast stations are required to seek a franchise from Congress before being allowed to operate.

Source: Philippine Star January 02, 2020 16:30 UTC