Salceda, sigurado na di ma rerenew ang ABS-CBN Franchise

Congressman Salceda has no doubt that ABS-CBN's franchise renewal will not make it through with the House's scheduled hearing on the March 10 proposal.

According to Albay Rep. Joey Salceda's decision to open the initial hearing is a great step forward in relieving the perceived tension between those who favor and oppose the matter.

However, Salceda said he saw no reason to disapprove the renewal of the franchise of the TV network because he also saw positive signs from key groups directly related to or involved in the matter.

The congressman further referred to President Rodrigo Duterte who first expressed his dislike for the TV network but also saw his position weakening.

In addition, Salceda exemplified the CBCP franchise which was known by the President but also passed the franchise renewal.

Salceda is one of the principal authors for the CBCP franchise renewal and co-author of House Bill 676, which is among the remaining eleven proposals calling for an extension of ABS-CBN's 25-year renewal.

ABS-CBN pwede pa mag operate sa ere kahit expire na ang prangkisa

ABS-CBN can still continue broadcasting even after its franchise expires on March 30, 2020. Until Congress has not yet dismissed the application or until the 18th Congress ends, the giant network can still continue to operate.

According to Isabela Rep. Tonypet Albano, vice chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises: what's happening to ABS-CBN now does not mean that it will close immediately when its franchise expires next month.

“It does not mean that ABS-CBN will close completely because of the rule of thumb and I believe this in the committee we were briefed on this is that while 18th Congress is still ongoing it will not stop ABS-CBN's services as long as "The 18th Congress is not over," Albano said. “Maybe the others are worried by the March 30th expiration of their contract because they filed the petition in the House of Representatives then this petition is being heard and then by the virtue of the fact that we say clearance in Congress has not been filed because it has applied they are in a position. ”

Albano did not support the call of Buhay Rep. Rep. Atienza for Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez to resign, chairman of the committee, if he would not do something about ABS-CBN application.

“I do believe we do not support the call of Rep. Atienza. We know for a fact that we have a hardworking chairman; that the chairman is doing his best. ”

There are 11 proposals in the Chamber of Representatives in connection with the ABS-CBN franchise renewal.

ABS-CBN DELIKADO ANG SITWASYON: nag palabas ng Pay Per View nong Pacquiao VS Mayweather kahit walang permit galing sa NTC

Stated in the quo warranto of the office of the Solicitor General, specifically in PART Substantive number 66, it stated:

Respondent ABS-CBN Corporation violated its legislative franchise when it operated a pay-per-view channel through free air signals.

In February 2015, ABS-CBN Corporation launched the country's first digital terrestrial set 'top box' with free premium digital TV channels called ABS-CBN TV Plus. Thereafter, in March 2016, ABS-CBN launched a pay-per-view channel in ABS-CBN TV Plus, the Kapamilya Box Office (KBO).

The process of having a franchise of a TV network to be able to operate and broadcast on TV, undergoes two proper permits or franchise, one from the Congress, of which has approved the franchise, and two, the permit coming from the National Telecommunications Commission, a telecommunication department of the government. The franchise from the Congress will then be turn into a Republic Act, the RA 7966.

RA 7966 on Section 3 states:

Prior Approval of the National Telecommunications Commission . - The grantee shall secure from the National Telecommunications Commission the appropriate permits and licenses for its station and shall not use any frequency in the television or radio spectrum without having been authorized by the Commission. The Commission, however, shall not unreasonably withhold or delay the grant of any such authority.

ABS-CBN, according to the QW, violated Republic Act 7966. Because in 2015, during the peak of the confirmed fight of Manny Pacquiao VS Mayweather JR, ABS-CBN offered a Pay-Per-View for its viewers. Meaning, they get money from viewers who want to watch the boxing fight of Pacquiao and Mayweather live through the TV Plus cable system, the Kapamilya Box Office. However, ABS-CBN did not get any permit from NTC as of those times. Still ABS-CBN continued to offer the Pay-Per-View fight live on TV Plus to viewers. In short, ABS-CBN did not have any permit from NTC. Thus, ABS-CBN violated RA 7966.

What worse is, ABS-CBN have not done this once, but many times.

In the QW based on facts, ABS-CBN wrote a letter to NTC, promising that they would only offer the Pay-Per-View through their free channels on their TV PLus Box.

However, the QW stated:

In a letter dated April 29, 2015, NTC directed ABS-CBN to 'refrain from offering any pay television service in ts DTT trials until such time that the Commission has come up with appropriate guidelines for the same.

Watch the video below by RJ Nieto: