Senate probe into ABS-CBN's alleged violations sought

MANILA, Philippines — As ABS-CBN bats for the renewal of their franchise at the Congress a month before its expiry, Sen. Grace Poe sought a legislative inquiry into supposed violations of the broadcasting company.

Poe filed Senate resolution No. 322 directing the Senate Committee on Public Services, which she

leads, to look into the operations of ABS-CBN Corporation and its compliance with its franchise law, Republic Act 7966.

Poe cited Solicitor General Jose Calida’s

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warranto petition against the network giant before the Supreme Court filed Monday.

“A month before its expiration, on 10 February 2020, a

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warranto case was filed against the grantee, ABS-CBN Corporation, on its alleged violations in its legislative franchise, ultimately seeking the revocation of the same,” she said.

Calida, in his plea, said ABS-CBN operates its KBO Channel without 

permit from the National Telecommunications Commission.

He also said that the company issued Philippine Deposit Receipts—tools that allows foreign investors a passive economic interest in a Philippine company—that violates foreign ownership restriction on mass media.

The solicitor general also said Convergence, ABS-CBN’s subsidiary, uses Multi-Media Telephony’s franchise without approval from Congress.

Poe noted that the broadcast giant denied the accusations of Calida and said that they are not violating any laws.

EXPLAINER: Calida cites 'transcendental importance' in case vs ABS-CBN: What is it?

However, the senator noted that RA 7966 provides that the franchise “shall be subject to amendment, alteration or repeal by the Congress of the Philippines when the public interest so requires.”

“[

T]he power to amend, alter, or repeal is corollary to the power to review the compliance of a grantee with the terms and conditions of its franchise,” she added.

Quo warranto plea

The SC, in a full court session Tuesday, ordered ABS-CBN to answer Calida’s allegations.

The tribunal however did not issue a temporary restraining order against KBO—one of Calida’s prayers in the

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warranto plea—in its February 11 session.

EXPLAINER: Calida says ABS-CBN's KBO service illegal, but network says it has permits

At the House of Representatives, there are at least eight bills filed seeking the renewal of the broadcast company’s legislative franchise.