Two congressmen have filed House resolutions (HRs) seeking an inquiry in aid of legislation on the recent partnership that was forged by local media giants TV5 and ABS-CBN.

TV5 logo (top) and ABS-CBN logo (Wikipedia)

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/11/tv5-abs-cbn-announce-landmark-deal/

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/11/abs-cbn-acquires-35-of-tv5-in-a-landmark-deal/

Zamboanga Sibugay 1st district Rep. Wilter Palma and Quezon 2nd district Rep. David “Jay-jay” Suarez filed HR 280 and 281, respectively, directing the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to probe the media partnership.

Paranaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting chairs the House committee.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/18/tambunting-explains-why-house-briefing-on-abs-cbn-tv5-deal-didnt-push-through/

The Palma bill is formally titled “Resolution Directing The Committee On Legislative Franchises To Conduct An Inquiry, In Aid Of Legislation, On The Alleged Foreign Ownership Of ABC Development Corporation, Presently Known As ‘TV5 Network, Inc.,’ Which Could Constitute A Violation Of Its Legislative Franchise.”

Palma’s resolution wants to probe allegations that TV5 network is owned by an Indonesian national.

“There were published reports alleging that ABC Development Corporation, presently known as TV5 Network, Inc.,...is actually owned by an Indonesian National,” Palma alleged in his resolution, though he did not provide any sources to serve as basis for his claim.

“If this allegation that TV5 Network, Inc. is owned by an Indonesian National is true, then there is a clear violation of the 1987 Constitution,” the Zamboanga Sibugay representative added.

Suarez’s HR 281 is titled “Resolution Directing The Committee On Legislative Franchises To Conduct An Inquiry, In Aid Of Legislation, On The Alleged Franchise Violation By ABC Development Corporation, Presently Known As ‘TV5 Network, Inc.’ Due To Its Block Time Agreement With ABS-CBN Corporation.”

“With the recent partnership formed between TV5 Network, Inc., and ABS-CBN Corporation, where it was disclosed that ABS-CBN Corporation will acquire 34.99% of the total voting and outstanding capital stock of TV5 Network, Inc., there are reports alleging that additional ABS-CBN programs and contents will be aired in TV5 Network, thus, increasing further the block time of ABS-CBN Corporation,” Suarez wrote.

“Section 10 of RA (Republic Act) 11320 prohibits the grantee, TV5 Network, Inc., among others, to grant the usufruct of its rights and privileges to any person, firm, company, corporation or any commercial or legal entity without the prior approval of the Congress of the Philippines,” Suarez added, citing RA 11320 pertaining to the franchises renewal of TV5 for another 25 years.

Both HRs were filed on Tuesday, Aug. 16, and subsequently read in plenary on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Suarez added that networks with expired franchises that continue to indirectly broadcast their programs through valid legislative franchises would be circumventing the law.

In a 70-11 vote on July 10, 2022, the ABS-CBN franchise renewal application was rejected by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, then-chaired by Palawan Rep. Franz Alvarez.

READ: https://mb.com.ph/2020/07/10/abs-cbn-franchise-bid-junked/

Meanwhile, SAGIP Party-list Rep. Rodante Marcoleta–a key figure in the rejection of ABS-CBN's franchise renewal application--has expressed outrage over the deal between the two media giants.

READ:

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/10/circumvention-of-law-marcoleta-wants-pcc-to-look-into-abs-cbn-tv5-deal/

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/12/pcc-ntc-bir-officials-to-be-summoned-by-house-over-abs-cbn-tv5-deal/

https://mb.com.ph/2022/08/15/marcoleta-says-abs-cbn-tv5-deal-left-bad-taste-in-the-mouth-pegs-kapamilya-network-obligations-at-p1-6t/

#wilter palma

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