- Martin Nievera shared his thoughts on the allegations surrounding ABS-CBN Network.
- The Concert King assured that he will not turn his back on the Kapamilya station, no matter what happens.
- Sotto thought that ABS-CBN can still operate even after the franchise expires on March 30 this year, but Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel opposed the idea.
“Hindi mawawala ang ABS-CBN,” this is what Martin Nievera said when he was asked about his opinion on the possible shutdown of the said Network.
In an interview, the Concert King said that he won’t turn his back on the Network giant despite its franchise woes.
“I’m still in the dark about the whole franchise thing for ABS-CBN network. All I know is I’m with Kapamilya [network].
“For as long as they’ll keep me and as long as they’ll have me.
“I’m a team player and I’m not gonna turn my back just because of these possible intrigues, this possible reality that happened.”
Whether it is true or not, Nievera is firm to believe that the Kapamilya Network will not leave anyone behind; that they have a ‘bigger and better things in mind and plan for everybody’.
Nonetheless, he assured that the ABS-CBN will not be gone.
Until now, the bills requesting the House of Representatives to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN remain pending. This worries not only the people working with the Network, but also the televiewers and its patrons, now that its franchise is set to expire on March 30, 2020.
Adding to the network’s problems, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition before the Supreme Court requesting to terminate ABS-CBN’s franchise due to alleged violations. However, Senate Leader Tito Sotto believes that Calida’s petition is irrelevant to the pending franchise bill since there’s no quo warranto for the new franchise.
Meanwhile, the Senate has different views regarding ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. In an interview, Sotto said that the Network could still operate until March of 2022, as long as there is a filed bill in the Congress which Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senator Aquilino ‘Koko’ Pimentel have opposed.
Drilon, a lawyer, is certain that ABS-CBN can no longer operate if its franchise is not renewed after it expires by the end of March this year. Pimentel, who is also a lawyer, remarked that there must be a legal basis to continue the Network’s operations that’s why the franchise must be renewed.
