If it is truly lawful, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III on Monday said he would sign the signature campaign that will allow the people to pass a law that will grant a franchise to ABS-CBN.
(Senate of the Philippines / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“If so, alright, I’ll sign,” the senator said during an interview over CNN Philippines.
Sotto had previously expressed commitment that he would vote in favor of the network’s franchise renewal once it hurdled the House of Representatives.
However, the House voted 70-11 to adopt the recommendations of the Committee on Legislative Franchises not to grant the franchise renewal of the media giant.
Sotto expressed doubt that the signature campaign will even take off.
Over the weekend, lawyer Dino De Leon announced that a signature campaign will be launched called the People’s Initiative for Reforms and Movement for Action or PIRMA Kapamilya.
De Leon explained that Republic Act No. 6735, the Initiative and Referendum Act, allows the people to pass laws that Congress refuses.
Sotto pointed out this law “does not include private bills.”
“Ang (The) franchise of a certain corporation is a private bill,” he said.
“It’s not part of the Constitution. It’s not allowed,” added Sotto, who said that only Congress has the power to grant legislative franchises to private corporations like ABS-CBN.