The controversial shutdown of the giant ABS-CBN network was revived today, Wednesday, November 23 during a public hearing by the Commission on Appointments on the proposed confirmation of the appointment of Gamaliel Asis Cordoba as Commission on Audit (COA) chairman.
Cordoba was the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) commissioner that ordered ABS-CBN to cease and desist operations because it had no congressional franchise.
This put Senator Risa Hontiveros, the Senate deputy minority leader and a CA member at loggerheads when SAGIP Representative Rodante Marcoleta said Hontiveros was belaboring the issue by grilling Cordoda..
Hontiveros put Cordoba at her cross hairs over the agency’s non-issuance of a temporary permit to operate to ABS-CBN after its franchise expired, even though he made the commitment to House of Representatives member. In March 2020.
Her line of questioning prompted Marcoleta to come to Cordoba’s defense.
Marcoleta was among the main advocates of ABS-CBN’s shutdown in the House in the 18th Congress.
This resulted in a heated exchange between the two lawmakers.
Hontiveros said at issue is press freedom and the fate of 12,000 ABS-CBN labor force that was made jobless.
Marcoleta also said that the central point is that ABS-CBN could not operate without a congressional franchise. He said ABS-SBN had more 2,800 employees, not 12,000 as claimed.
Cordoba said he followed the law and jurisprudence set by the Supreme Court in not allowing ABS-CBN not to operate.
He earlier allowed ABS-CBN auto operate upon the legal advice of the Department of Justice.
Hontiveros was not satisfied with Cordoba’s incapability to “push the envelope” at the time, saying that the NTC appeared to cave in to then-solicitor general Jose Calida’s threat to go after NTC commissioners should they grant reprieve to ABS-CBN.
She also pointed out that there were companies such as GMA-7, TV5 and Subic Broadcasting in the past who were allowed to operate even after their franchise expired.
This was when Marcoleta butted in, saying Hontiveros was “belaboring” the issue.
“No network can operate without a franchise, period. The chairman cannot do anything, he will be remiss of his duty. He will violate the law. This is moot and academic,” Marcoleta said. “It’s not about press freedom, it’s about franchise.”
Hontiveros later asked for a ‘’one minute suspension’’ of the committee heard by Senator Cynthia A. Vilar as chairwoman of the CA constitutional commissions and offices.
The shutdown was effected during the administration of then President Duterte who has not hidden his resentment against the telecommunications giant,
The CA later held its plenary session to confirm the appointment of Benjamin Diokno as Finance secretary and former Chief Justice Lucas Bersamin as Executive Secretary.
The Villar committee will resume its committee hearing on the Cordoba appointment next week.