Luis Manzano is one proud son of Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos after she voted in support of the renewal of his home network ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“Love you Momski. Proud of you,” the TV host tweeted on Friday.
On Friday, the House committee on legislative franchises thumbed down ABS-CBN’s bid for a new 25-year franchise. Out of 85 panel members and ex-officio members present, only 11 representatives voted against the drafting group’s recommendation to deny the network a new congressional license.
Rep. Santos, author of House Bill No. 4305, one of the bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise, earlier appealed to her colleagues in legislative franchises committee to be more open-minded, exercise fairness, consider the network’s “65 years of public service” and take ABS-CBN president/CEO Carlo Katigbak’s word that the network is working hard to be a better company.
A Philstar.com report said that apart from Santos, those who voted against the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise bid were Sol Aragones (Laguna 3rd District); Christopher De Venecia (Pangasinan 4th District); Carlos Zarate (Bayan Muna Party-list); Gabriel Bordado (Camarines Sur 3rd District); Vilma Santos (Batangas 6th District); Lianda Bolilia (Batangas 4th District); Jose Tejada (North Cotabato 4th District); Bienvenido Abante (Manila 6th District); Stella Quimbo (Marikina 2nd District); Mujiv Hataman (Basilan Lone District) and Edward Maceda (Manila 4th District).
The STAR reported that the committee cited six issues tackled during the past House hearings that “taken collectively, weigh heavily against the grant of legislative franchise to ABS-CBN.”
Specifically cited were “American citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III and doubtful Filipino citizenship and allegiance to the Philippines,” possible violation of constitutional prohibition against foreign ownership in mass media, numerous violations of terms of the franchise, questionable tax avoidance schemes, apparent use of a dummy and less than exemplary labor practices.”
Meanwhile, Katigbak expressed gratitude toward their supporters, including the lawmakers who stood by them during the 12 hearings that tackled allegations against the network.
Katigbak added that they will not be swayed from public service, hoping to find another platform to continue their mission.
