ABS-CBN: WeVe complied withritlaws
on franchise, quo warranto filing illdmed
By LoRENz S. MARAstcAN{
44ffii{,fiT{lifl",*:n
complied with the laws governing
its franchise and had secured
all regulatory approvals for its
operations.
In a statement after the
Office of the Solicitor Gen-
eral filed a quo warranto case
against it, the company said the
allegations of the government
lawyers "are without merit,"
listing its defense against the
case filed by the OSG.
The listed multimedia con-
glomerate saidallits offerings,
including KBO, are allowed
under its franchise, and that
its Philippine Depositary Re-
ceipts (PDRs) were "evaluated
and approved" by securities
regulator prior to their of-
fering.
It f urther explained that its
ownership of ABS-CBN Con-
vergence is the similar track
bywhichtelco companiesown
their businesses, and that the
@Iorenzmarasigan Monday saw the OSG filing a quo in the ownership ofmass media, cit- sentatives and the Executive branch
warranto case against the Lopez-led ing t h" Ph ilippine ConsLitution as h is have assured the public that ourfran-
multimedia giantbefore the Supreme ieference. He also saidthe set-top box chise will be allowed Lo go through I
Court, askingit to revoke the already for digital television-TV Plus-as the proper renewal process in a fair I
expiringfranchise of ABS-CBN foral well as the KBO network were "not ma nner. To thal end. the filing of the
ligeclly violating its franchise.
The quo warranto filingdrew con-
approved by the National Telecom-
munications Commission."
President Duterte has publicly
quo warranto case is ill-timed given
that Congress has alreadyresumedits
session," ABS-CBN's statement read.
troversy, as it comes while the House
of Representatives isbeing pressured statedhe wanted to remove the ABS- Time a nd again, med ia groups have
to call hearings on various proposals CBN franchise from the Lopezes since cried foul against the Duterte admin-
to renewABS-CBNls franchise, which he took office in 2016, whenhe siart- istration's "Marcosian game plan" to
expires in March. Some lawmakers ed launching a tirade of accusations derail the franchise renewal ofABS-
CBN Corp., calling it a blatant attack
."id Soliciror General Jose Calidas against the television titan.
Despite this, solons have given as to suppress press freedom marred
move infringed on Congress's power
to grant franchises. surances that the franchise hearing with "putrid motives." The Dutertq
share transfers were above Inhis "veiyurgent" motion, Calida will proceed. administration insists the case has
board, as they are "fully com- allegedforeigl investors "taking part" "The Senate, the House of Repre- nothing to do with press freedom.
pliant" with the Public Tele-
communications Act.
{peq€ -plY
KBO, it said, is one of the
cheapest forms of entertain-
ment in the country. The
capital raised from the PDRs
funded its services to "nearly
90 percent of the Philippines,
and to our overseas Filipino
BrrsinessNlirror Tuesday, FebruarV 1f,2020
!!
workers all over the world." It
added that its telco arm helps
policy-makers in improving
Internet ac€ess inthe countrY.
"We reiterate that every-
thing we do is in accordance
with the law. We did not violate
the law. This case appears tobe
an attempt to deprive Filipinos
of the services of ABS-CBN,"
the statemEnt lead.