The House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted 70-11, with two inhibitions and one abstention, adopting a resolution denying the franchise application of ABS-CBN Corporation to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Radio & Broadcasting Stations in the Philippines.
The resolution was recommended by a three-person Technical Working Group that summarized six key issues taken up in deliberations in a dozen hearings called by the committee on their application to renew their franchise. The TWG opted not to rule on the matter of “biased reporting” or the network’s alleged meddling in politics, raised by certain lawmakers. The TWG acknowledged that, “The principles of press freedom, fair comment, and self-regulation of media militate against any attempt at such ruling.”
BELOW, SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL TEXT OF THE TWG REPORT:
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila
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