MANILA, Philippines — Merely minutes into the awaited first House panel meeting on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal on Tuesday, lawmakers are already quarrelling over the guidelines and rules for the hearing. The House committee on legislative franchises convened on Tuesday to discuss the ground rules in the formal deliberations of the 11 pending bills seeking to renew the media firm’s franchise. It took the panel about 40 minutes to finish the deliberations and approve the ground rules for the next hearing. Ground rulesAmong the ground rules that were agreed upon by the panel were limiting media persons to two personnel for news outfits during the hearing. Those who will attend the hearing, lawmakers and resource persons alike, will not be allowed to utter and conduct “indecorous” words and acts.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer March 10, 2020 11:37 UTC