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Palace calls for conscience vote on ABS-CBN franchise as hearings wrap up

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Arianne Merez, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/07/05/20200705-abscbn-franchise-kapamilya-supporters-mb-24.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>Supporters and employees write messages of encouragement on a freedom wall outside the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Quezon City, July 5, 2020. Michael Bagtas, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA - Members of Congress should vote on the ABS-CBN franchise issue according to their conscience, Malacañang said Tuesday as lawmakers wrap up this week their hearings on bills seeking to grant the broadcasting network a fresh 25-year license to operate.President Rodrigo Duterte remains &quot;neutral&quot; on the company&#x27;s bid for a new franchise, his spokesman Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.&quot;Humingi na po ng tawad sa kanya, pinatawad na niya,&quot; Roque said, referring to the apology offered by ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak in February over an aired negative political advertisement in 2016 that offended Duterte.(They asked for forgiveness and he has forgiven the company.)<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/26/20/duterte-accepts-abs-cbn-apology-over-2016-pol-ad">Duterte accepts ABS-CBN apology over 2016 pol ad</a></li></ul>&quot;Neutral po siya (Duterte). Vote according to your conscience,&quot; added Roque.While he accepted the apology, Duterte had said he is leaving the fate of ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise to Congress.The President had previously threatened to block ABS-CBN&#x27;s bid for a new franchise.House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday said he too was seeking a &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/06/20/cayetano-urges-conscience-vote-on-abs-cbn-franchise">conscience vote</a>&quot; among his colleagues.ABS-CBN has been off the air for more than two months already since the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on May 5 shut down its free television and radio services.The NTC committed in March to lawmakers that it will let the network stay on air while Congress deliberates on ABS-CBN&#x27;s new franchise application.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/06/20/calida-pressed-ntc-to-issue-cease-and-desist-order-vs-abs-cbn-document-shows ">Calida pressed NTC to issue cease and desist order vs ABS-CBN, document shows</a></li></ul>Last week, the NTC also closed down ABS-CBN&#x27;s digital broadcast in Metro Manila and its sister company&#x27;s SKYDirect services, following the advice of Solicitor General Jose Calida, who in February sought to nullify the network&#x27;s franchise due to alleged abuses.The Supreme Court has junked Calida&#x27;s petition, saying the issue has become &quot;moot and academic&quot; as ABS-CBN&#x27;s previous franchise expired May 4.news.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.

Members of Congress should vote on the ABS-CBN franchise issue according to their conscience, Malacañang said Tuesday as lawmakers wrap up this week their hearings on bills seeking to grant the broadcasting network a fresh 25-year license to operate.

Members of Congress should vote on the ABS-CBN franchise issue according to their conscience, Malacañang said Tuesday as lawmakers wrap up this week their hearings on bills seeking to grant the broadcasting network a fresh 25-year license to operate.

Palace calls for conscience vote on ABS-CBN franchise as hearings wrap up

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Palace calls for conscience vote on ABS-CBN franchise as hearings wrap up

Arianne Merez,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 07, 2020 03:40 PM PHT

|

Updated July 07, 2020 05:36 PM PHT

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ABS-CBN

ABS-CBN franchise

Rodrigo Duterte ABS-CBN

Malacañang ABS-CBN

Kapamilya network

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