ABS-CBN employees and supporters are set to troop to the House of Representatives on Thursday to press congressmen to vote in favor of giving ABS-CBN its new franchise.
According to the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines (NUJP), the caravan will start from ABS-CBN’s Sgt. Esguerra Gate in Quezon City and will travel to the House of Representatives’ Gate 1 where a program will be held at around 10:30 a.m.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises wrapped up its hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise last Monday, July 6 after 12 sessions.
While there’s no schedule yet on the voting, there are rumors that the committee will vote against the ABS-CBN franchise.
In an article by Politiko, it said that Rep. Paolo “Pulong” Duterte and the influential INC sect have teamed up to lobby against the granting of a new franchise to ABS-CBN.
“A top-level source told Politiko that lawmakers are reportedly being threatened with zero projects if they vote to grant ABS-CBN’s franchise application. They’re also allegedly warned that they will face challengers in the 2022 elections if they don’t do the bidding of Pulong and INC.
“On top of political threats, Politiko’s source claimed some lawmakers have also been threatened with physical harm– short of harassment– should they side with ABS-CBN,” said the article.
‘Di aabot sa sampung boto! Iglesia Ni Cristo, Pulong Duterte team up to kill ABS-CBN’s franchise bidhttps://t.co/CwCC4AibVS#PolitikoNews#ABSCBNFranchiseHearing #IglesiaNiCristo pic.twitter.com/Jsxa3JYjjy
— Politiko (@Politiko_Ph) July 7, 2020
However, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano denied the circulating report about Pulong and INC saying he advised congress to have a conscience vote on the matter.
House Speaker @alanpcayetano, pinabulaanan ang balitang may religious group at mga mambabatas na nagiimpluwensiya sa pagboto ng mga kongresista sa ABS-CBN franchise pic.twitter.com/JLMMfuzfSw
— Zandro Ochona (@ZandroOchona) July 8, 2020
ABS-CBN has been shut down since May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order against the network.
The network’s franchise bills have been stalled in Congress for years since 2016, It was in May 2020, that it was given the chance to be discussed in the committee of legislative franchises.
