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Move vs denial of ABS-CBN franchise 'shorter route' to revive network: solon

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/01/06/20200831-workers-organizations-protest-jc-14.jpg"/><figcaption>Protesters led by DefendJobs Philippines hold a protest condemning the retrenchment of thousands of ABS-CBN workers, caused by the denial of its franchise renewal, outside the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Sgt Esguerra, Quezon City on August 31, 2020. The labor groups tagged the 70 solons who voted against the renewal as &quot;modern-day traitors of the working class &amp; people in time” as the country commemorates National Heroes’ Day. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA - The filing of a motion for reconsideration against the denial of a fresh franchise for ABS-CBN Corp is the shorter route to revive the network, a lawmaker said Wednesday.</p><p>Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza made the remark after Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a bill seeking to give a fresh franchise to ABS-CBN while Batangas 6th District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto said she would do the same at the House of Representatives.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/04/21/sotto-files-new-bill-to-renew-abs-cbns-franchise">Sotto files new bill to give ABS-CBN fresh 25-year franchise</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/04/21/vilma-santos-recto-to-refile-bill-pushing-for-new-abs-cbn-franchise">Vilma Santos-Recto to refile bill pushing for new ABS-CBN franchise</a></li></ul><p>The &quot;least&quot; the House can do is to &quot;react&quot; to Sotto&#x27;s bill and &quot;resolve the issue&quot; which remains in its agenda, Atienza said.</p><p>&quot;That’s one mode of doing it. In my opinion, there’s a shorter route and that is to file a motion for reconsideration, the matter is still on the table. It was laid on the table at the committee level so technically under our rules, pwede sabihin ng plenary &#x27;yung nakastandby d&#x27;yan na ABS-(CBN) bill. It appears on our agenda everyday, the ABS-(CBN) issue still on our agenda as an unfinished business,&quot; he told ANC&#x27;s Headstart.</p><p>(It was laid on the table at the committee level so technically under our rules, the plenary can cite the ABS-CBN bill on standby.)</p><p>&quot;Yun ang (That is the) shorter route. Without filing a new bill we can take up what is on our agenda these past months and take it up fairly, allowing both sides to speak freely and make a decision on the plenary level.&quot;</p><p>Under the current House leadership, the plenary can have a &quot;free debate&quot; on the issue that is &quot;not dictated or railroaded,&quot; Atienza said.</p><p>&quot;I am just relying on the character of the new Speaker, he’s not the type to double-cross and double talk and deal with everybody with a sleight of hand,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;The issue is still at rest at that level and I believe it can be pulled out by the plenary now and reconsider. In the new leadership that we have now I am also convinced we will have a free debate on the issue na hindi (that is not) dictated and hindi (not) railroaded.&quot;</p><p>Atienza maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte, who has many times threatened to shut down the network, was not involved in the chamber&#x27;s denial of franchise to ABS-CBN in July.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/10/20/house-committee-denies-abs-cbn-a-new-franchise">House committee denies ABS-CBN a new franchise</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/05/21/palace-fresh-push-for-abs-cbn-franchise-is-sole-prerogative-of-congress">Palace: Fresh push for ABS-CBN franchise is &#x27;sole prerogative&#x27; of Congress</a></li></ul><p>&quot;I still believe what Malacañang says, they have nothing to do with the decision, it was purely a Congressional action coming from (former) Speaker’s own position on the issue,&quot; he said,</p><p>&quot;Until I&#x27;ve been told by the President myself &#x27;you do that, this is what I want,&#x27; I will not believe those accusations. Those are made up issues to sugarcoat the questionable issue.&quot;</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jwzYdKU2A6I?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>The filing of a motion for reconsideration against the denial of a fresh franchise for ABS-CBN Corp is the shorter route to revive the network, a lawmaker said Wednesday.</p>

The filing of a motion for reconsideration against the denial of a fresh franchise for ABS-CBN Corp is the shorter route to revive the network, a lawmaker said Wednesday.