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TIMELINE: ABS-CBN franchise renewal

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/entertainment/02/23/20200221-abs-cbn-solidarity-gathering-gcs-0011.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>ABS-CBN employees and press freedom advocates join the solidarity gathering outside the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, Friday. <em>Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATE) </strong>- The Senate on Monday is set to tackle issues hounding the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the Philippines&#x27; largest media network.</p><p>Here are key events in the network&#x27;s bid to renew its license to operate:</p><div><strong>March 30, 1995</strong></div><p>- The franchise of ABS-CBN Corp was approved through Republic Act No. 7966, with an expiration date of March 30, 2020.</p><div><br/><strong>June 11, 2016</strong></div><p>- ABS-CBN said it had opted for an early renewal application in September 2014 and &quot;went through the normal legislative process.&quot; But it later withdrew its application &quot;due to time constraints.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/11/16/abs-cbn-statement-on-the-philippine-daily-inquirer-article">ABS-CBN statement on the Philippine Daily Inquirer article</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>April 27, 2017</strong></div><p>- President Rodrigo Duterte, in a chance interview, said he would formally block the renewal of ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise after accusing the company of &quot;swindling.&quot;</p><p>Duterte said the network failed to air his campaign ad before the 2016 polls and then failed to return the money.</p><div><br/><strong>December 3, 2019</strong></div><p>- The President told ABS-CBN not to expect a franchise renewal, saying he would &quot;see to it that you&#x27;re out.&quot;</p><div><br/><strong>December 30, 2019</strong></div><p>- Duterte, in a speech in Cotabato, told ABS-CBN management to just sell the company.</p><div><br/><strong>February 10, 2020</strong></div><p>- The Office of the Solicitor General questioned the current franchise of ABS-CBN Corp and its subsidiary, ABS-CBN Convergence Inc., before the Supreme Court through a quo warranto petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/20/solicitor-general-questions-abs-cbn-franchise-before-supreme-court">Solicitor General questions ABS-CBN franchise before Supreme Court</a></li></ul><p>- On the same day, ABS-CBN said the Solicitor General&#x27;s allegations were &quot;without merit.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href=" https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/20/abs-cbn-responds-to-ill-timed-calida-petition-we-did-not-violate-the-law">ABS-CBN responds to ‘ill-timed’ Calida petition: ‘We did not violate the law’</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/20/read-statement-of-abs-cbn-on-osgs-quo-warranto-petition-we-did-not-violate-the-law">READ: Statement of ABS-CBN on OSG&#x27;s Quo Warranto petition: We did not violate the law</a></li></ul><p>- Several lawmakers hit the move of the government&#x27;s top lawyer, saying it &quot;usurped&quot; on the exclusive power of Congress to review franchises.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/20/usurping-the-power-of-congress-lawmakers-question-quo-warranto-plea-vs-abs-cbn">&#x27;Usurping the power of Congress&#x27;: Lawmakers question quo warranto plea vs ABS-CBN</a></li></ul><p>- Buhay partylist Rep. Jose Atienza, Jr., in a privilege speech, asked House Committee on Legislative Franchises chair Rep. Franz Alvarez to act on bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN franchise or resign.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/02/10/20/atienza-asks-house-committee-chairperson-to-act-on-bills-seeking-to-renew-abs-cbn-franchise-or-resign">Atienza asks House committee chairperson to act on bills seeking to renew ABS-CBN franchise or resign</a></li></ul><p>- Malacañang distanced Duterte from the Solicitor General&#x27;s move, saying the chief executive&#x27;s verbal attacks against ABS-CBN Corp. were unrelated to the quo warranto petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/10/20/dutertes-threats-vs-abs-cbn-unrelated-to-solgen-quo-warranto-bid-palace">Duterte&#x27;s threats vs ABS-CBN unrelated to SolGen quo warranto bid: Palace</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 11, 2020</strong></div><p>- The Supreme Court gave ABS-CBN 10 days to answer the Solicitor General&#x27;s petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/11/20/sc-asks-abs-cbn-to-comment-on-quo-warranto-plea">Supreme Court asks ABS-CBN to comment on franchise challenge</a></li></ul><p>- Senator Christoper &quot;Bong&quot; Go, a longtime aide of Duterte, said the latter has &quot;nothing to do&quot; with Calida&#x27;s petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/11/20/go-duterte-has-nothing-to-do-with-calidas-quo-warranto-plea-vs-abs-cbn">Go: Duterte has &#x27;nothing to do&#x27; with Calida&#x27;s quo warranto plea vs ABS-CBN</a></li></ul><p>- House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano vowed an impartial hearing on bills for ABS-CBN franchise renewal</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/11/20/house-speaker-vows-impartial-hearing-on-bills-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal?">House Speaker vows impartial hearing on bills for ABS-CBN franchise renewal</a></li></ul><p>- Although Congress has yet to tackle bills seeking to renew the network&#x27;s franchise, ABS-CBN may continue to operate beyond the expiration of its license to operate, according to Isabela 1st District Rep. Antonio Albano, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/11/20/abs-cbn-can-operate-beyond-franchise-expiry-sotto-albano">ABS-CBN can operate beyond franchise expiry- House franchise panel vice chair</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 12, 2020</strong></div><p>- ABS-CBN released a reaction to Albano&#x27;s statement, expressing appreciation to &quot;the commitment of Congress to go through the renewal process at the appropriate time.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/12/20/read-abs-cbn-statement-february-12-2020">READ: ABS-CBN statement, February 12, 2020</a></li></ul><p>- Senator Grace Poe filed a <a href="http://senate.gov.ph/lisdata/3233329186!.pdf">resolution</a> &quot;directing the Senate Committee on Public Services to look into, in aid of legislation, on the operations of ABS-CBN Corporation to determine compliance with the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act No. 7966.&quot;</p><div><br/><strong>February 13, 2020</strong></div><p>- ABS-CBN Chief Operating Officer for Broadcast Cory Vidanes released a statement thanking the network&#x27;s supporters.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/13/20/basahin-pasasalamat-mula-sa-abs-cbn">BASAHIN: Pasasalamat mula sa ABS-CBN</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 14, 2020</strong></div><p>- Speaker Cayetano said ABS-CBN franchise bills are &quot;not that urgent,&quot; adding that the company can continue to operate through 2022 pending the passage of the new franchise bills.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/20/speaker-cayetano-abs-cbn-franchise-bills-not-that-urgent?">Speaker Cayetano: ABS-CBN franchise bills &#x27;not that urgent&#x27;</a></li></ul><p>- ABS-CBN employees and supporters gathered at Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City to call for the network&#x27;s franchise renewal.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/14/20/on-valentines-day-hundreds-rally-for-abs-cbn-amid-franchise-woes">On Valentine&#x27;s Day, hundreds rally for ABS-CBN amid franchise woes</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 17, 2020</strong></div><p>- Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed Senate Joint Resolution No. 11, seeking the extension of ABS-CBN&#x27;s current franchise until Dec. 31, 2022 amid the limited session days in Congress before the expiration of the company&#x27;s license to operate.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/17/20/drilon-files-joint-resolution-extending-abs-cbns-franchise-until-2022">Drilon files joint resolution extending ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise until 2022</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 18, 2020</strong></div><p>- Solicitor General Jose Calida asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order on ABS-CBN and &quot;parties and persons acting on their behalf&quot; relating to statements surrounding the quo warranto petition.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/solgen-asks-supreme-court-to-issue-gag-order-vs-abs-cbn">SolGen asks Supreme Court to issue gag order vs ABS-CBN</a></li></ul><p>- The Supreme Court told ABS-CBN to comment on the Solicitor General&#x27;s plea within 5 days.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/supreme-court-orders-abs-cbn-to-answer-solgens-gag-order-plea">Supreme Court orders ABS-CBN to answer SolGen&#x27;s gag order plea</a></li></ul><p>- The Senate initially set its hearing on the ABS-CBN franchise issue on Feb. 27, and later moved it to Feb. 24.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/20/senate-defers-february-24-session-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise">Senate defers February 24 session to tackle ABS-CBN franchise</a></li></ul><p>- Salvador Panelo, the presidential spokesman, said Duterte &quot;does not want&quot; ABS-CBN Corp to shut down despite the chief executive&#x27;s repeated criticism of the network.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/18/20/duterte-does-not-want-abs-cbn-to-close-spokesman">Duterte &#x27;does not want&#x27; ABS-CBN to close: spokesman</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 19, 2020</strong></div><p>- Sen. Bong Go told the House of Representatives to act on the pending bills for ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/19/20/ntc-seeks-advice-from-doj-on-abs-cbn-franchise-extension-bong-go">NTC seeks advice from DOJ on ABS-CBN franchise extension: Bong Go</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 20, 2020</strong></div><p>- ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak issued a videotaped message</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/no-reason-for-our-public-service-to-end-says-abs-cbn-president-and-ceo-carlo-katigbak?">&#x27;No reason for our public service to end,&#x27; says ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak</a></li></ul><p>- Speaker Cayetano said the House of Representatives may tackle bills on ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise in May or after Duterte&#x27;s fifth State of the Nation Address in July</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/20/20/cayetano-eyes-may-or-after-sona-2020-for-congress-to-tackle-abs-cbn-franchise">Cayetano eyes May or after SONA 2020 for Congress to tackle ABS-CBN franchise</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong>February 21, 2020</strong></div><p>- Sen. Grace Poe invited Solicitor General Calida at the Senate public services committee&#x27;s hearing on ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise set on Monday, Feb. 24.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/21/20/calida-presence-sought-in-senate-hearing-on-abs-cbn-franchise">Calida presence sought in Senate hearing on ABS-CBN franchise</a></li></ul><p>- ABS-CBN employees, supporters, and celebrities showed up for a unity walk around the network&#x27;s compound in Quezon City.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/21/20/it-can-happen-to-everybody-kapamilya-celebs-speak-up-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal">&#x27;It can happen to everybody&#x27;: Kapamilya celebs speak up for ABS-CBN franchise renewal</a></li></ul><div><br/><strong><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com">news.abs-cbn.com</a> is the official news website of ABS-CBN.</strong></div>

<p>The Senate on Monday is set to tackle issues hounding the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the Philippines' largest media network.</p>

The Senate on Monday is set to tackle issues hounding the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN Corp., the Philippines' largest media network.