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'Right thing to do': Lawmakers stand by ABS-CBN a year after closure

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/news/07/10/20210505-abs-cbn-shutdown-anniv-md-3.jpg"/><figcaption>The ABS-CBN compound lights up in the network’s colors on May 5, 2021, a year after the country&#x27;s telecoms body shut down ABS-CBN&#x27;s free TV and radio operations. <em>Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA—&quot;I believe that what I did was the right thing to do.&quot;</p><p>For House Deputy Speaker Bienvenido Abante Jr., his vote to grant ABS-CBN Corp. a fresh franchise last year was something that he did not regret, even if it was unpopular. </p><p>&quot;In most cases, one can have a clearer view of one&#x27;s decision and actions in the past . . . I would have to say that I believe that my vote to last year&#x27;s granting ABS-CBN a franchise was the right thing to do given what we knew then and what we know now... I voted something good at that time,&quot; Abante said in an interview on ANC.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/18/21/santos-recto-cites-abs-cbns-commitment-to-deliver-quality-shows-in-filing-franchise-bill">READ: Santos-Recto cites ABS-CBN&#x27;s commitment to deliver quality shows in filing franchise bill</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/07/09/21/abs-cbn-franchise-rejection-brave-11-solons">READ: Brave 11: Solons who voted for ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise renewal</a></li></ul><p>Abante, one of the so-called &quot;Brave 11&quot; Lower House lawmakers who backed the license renewal, said he would not have voted otherwise despite colleagues warning him that supporting the network at that time was &quot;political suicide.&quot; </p><p>&quot;That would be political suicide on my part. I would rather be truthful than try to skirt the issue. All along, in all of my political exercise or mandate, I have not been afraid to stand to what I believe is right,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Whether they call it political suicide, then it is still that people would have to make a decision on. To me, I believe what I did was right, it was good not only for ABS-CBN but for the Filipino people as well . . . [And] for the 11,000 workers of ABS-CBN.&quot;</p><p>He also <a href="http://https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/22/20/abs-cbn-franchise-hearings-among-longest-in-house-panel-history-solon">questioned </a>the 70 House lawmakers who opposed the network, pointing out that various regulatory agencies cleared ABS-CBN of violations during the 12 <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/07/09/20/12-hearings-100-hours-spent-for-parity-on-abs-cbns-franchise-bid-defensor">hearings</a>. </p><p>Rep. Carlos Zarate agreed with Abante, saying the decision not to grant ABS-CBN its franchise was premeditated. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/slideshow/07/09/21/abs-cbn-franchise-rejection-timeline">TIMELINE: The vote that killed ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise renewal bid</a></li></ul><p>Zarate added that he stood by his vote to support ABS-CBN since it was for the sake of issues such as press freedom, access to free information, among other things.</p><p>&quot;Even prior to the summation and these hearings, there is already a decision to really not grant the franchise of ABS-CBN. It comes from ex cathedra if I may say, from the seat, authority in Malacañang,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;I think that&#x27;s part of our position, that we have to stand on our ground. We believe that it is right not only for ABS-CBN, for the owners of ABS-CBN, but for the sake of bigger issues.&quot;</p><div><strong>WATCH</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1724405" width="100%"></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 House lawmakers should have also given weight to what various regulatory agencies said, like how the Supreme Court gives importance to them when making decisions. </p><p>Despite this, Filipinos should be reminded of this experience. </p><p>&quot;One lesson that we have to get from this experience . . . In the coming months and years . . . Press forward, push back. We can rise from this situation, we can wake up from this nightmare. We can crawl out from this tortured chamber that we have now.&quot;</p><p>The non-renewal of its franchise forced ABS-CBN to lay off thousands of workers at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving households in rural areas without a stable source of information amid several calamities that hit the country.</p>

<p>Abante said he would not have voted otherwise, even though colleagues warned him that supporting the network at that time was "political suicide."</p>

Abante said he would not have voted otherwise, even though colleagues warned him that supporting the network at that time was "political suicide."