Sen. Leila de Lima urged Filipinos on Friday to support moves to bring back ABS-CBN back to its feet through a People's Initiative (PI).

De Lima said she believes that the only viable solution to allow the embattled network to get a franchise is through the People's Initiative after the House Committee on Legislative Franchise voted 70-11 to reject its application for a 25-year franchise.

“Maaari tayong lumaban. Puwede tayong kumilos. Kaya nating magpakita ng tapang (We can fight. We can move. We can show our courage),” De Lima said.

Some groups have been weighing in on the possibility of pushing for a People’s Initiative to allow the network to get a franchise.

However, Malacañang insisted that Congress has the exclusive prerogative to grant a broadcasting franchise and not through a People’s Initiative.

But De Lima said a Peoples Initiative is the correct venue to express their disappointment with Duterte and his whole administration.

“Gawin po nating boses natin ang People’s Initiative, hindi lamang para sa ABS-CBN, sa mga Lopez, sa mga manggagawa at pamilya nila, at sa mga Kapamilya (Let’s launch the People’s initiative, and do it not just only for ABS-CBN, for the Lopezes, but for the workers, their family and to all Kapamilya),” the lawmaker stressed.

“Gawin po natin ito para sa ating mga karapatan, para sa kalayaan, para sa ating kinabukasan. Gawin po natin ito para sa ating Inang Bayan (Let’s do this for our own rights, our freedom and our future. Let’s do this for our nation).”