MANILA, Philippines — Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano has insisted that the House of Representatives has delivered on its promise and commitment to pass significant and important bills as its first regular session comes to a close. Cayetano made this list of achievements after the House of Representatives came under fire, as 70 members of the House committee on legislative franchises voted in favor of a report denying ABS-CBN its new franchise. But for Cayetano, the deliberation of the ABS-CBN franchise would mean the House can fully shift its attention towards the COVID-19 pandemic. This prompted Cayetano to reply that the House was not sleeping on its job. Cayetano asked Robredo and eventually Senator Grace Poe to relax as both claimed the House’s refusal to give ABS-CBN a new 25-year franchise would create a chilling effect.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer July 16, 2020 12:45 UTC