After Congress denied the renewal of ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise, a group of lawyers has begun initiatives that will allow Filipinos themselves to grant franchise renewal to the network.

“While we have representatives who act on our behalf, we, the governed, are sovereign and we can directly act as a People if our representatives refuse to do their job,” declared lawyer Dino De Leon of the Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG) in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday.

“Our current Constitution and laws allow us, the Sovereign People, to pass a law directly and to grant ABS-CBN its franchise, pursuant to Republic Act. No. 6735 and its implementing rules,” he said.

De Leon said he and his team “drafted a Proposed Initiative on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN” and “analyzed the requirements necessary to make an initiative possible.”

“We also suggested a practical way forward. This will require resources, but if the initiative is properly managed, I personally see this as very doable,” he said.

RA 6735, the “People’s Initiative Law" was initially brought up by law professor Atty. Enrique dela Cruz and became viral in social media.

FLAG chairman and human rights lawyer Jose Manuel “Chel” Diokno has already expressed agreement that this is feasible.

Dela Cruz said RA 6735 was passed in 1989 and allows the people to initiate legislation that Congress will refuse to pass.

The lawyer said the proposed legislation initiated by the people needs at least 10 percent of voters and at least three percent of voters in every legislative district.

Once the numbers have been reached, Dela Cruz assured that this people’s initiative becomes a full-pledged law that Congress and the President cannot stop.

“It is high time that we put Congress in its proper place and to counter their disservice to the people,” De Leon said.

“We need not wait for 2022. We can strengthen our democratic institutions now," he added.