MANILA, Philippines — Three days before the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN expires, a lawmaker has renewed his call for the granting of the network’s franchise extension. “Since Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano reiterated his assurance the other day that ‘there’s no move to close down ABS-CBN’, then why not grant the extension of the network’s franchise soonest?” Lagman said in a statement on Friday. Lagman, who has been vocal with his support for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, said that the approval of the media giant’s franchise will uphold press freedom. “Considering that there is no credible opposition to the extension of the franchise, then it is imperative that the beleaguered ABS-CBN be rescued from the quagmire of legal limbo by enacting without further delay such extension,” Lagman said. The 11 bills seeking the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise remain pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises — the earliest of which, at least in the 18th Congress, was filed in July 2019.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer May 01, 2020 01:30 UTC