Gusto mo maging banana republic tayo? Enrile warns Cayetano against playing with Constitution just to please Lopezes

Former Senator Juan Ponce Enrile is puzzled why Speaker Alan Cayetano is in such a rush to give ABS-CBN Corp. a franchise good only for a few months when he should be batting for a 25-year deal.

“What is the urgency? Why can’t they give a permanent franchise right away? They can hold day and night hearings to hear all sides;…if you think there is a national emergency, then ask (President Rodrigo Duterte) to certify bill so you can shorten period of deliberations,” said Enrile during the Senate committee hearing on ABS-CBN’s franchise on Tuesday, May 19.

“Tapos na yung termino nila, ang negosyo nila dapat nang ihinto. My God, all nooks and corners of the Republic is reached by radio. Our people know what’s going on because of radio, more than ABS-CBN, GMA or government stations or all other TV stations. Communication and information is not the issue,” said Enrile who doubts if Congress can grant provisional authority for ABS-CBN to continue operating.

Enrile is not a fan of Cayetano’s House Bill 6732 which seeks to grant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise good only up to October 2020 just to get the media giant back on air (after getting a cease and desist order form the National Telecommunications Commission on May 5, a day after its franchise lapsed). The Lopezes claimed they were losing P35 million a day since being taken off the air 14 days ago and warned irreparable losses, salary cutbacks and layoffs.

Enrile reckoned there was nothing stopping Cayetano from pushing House members to push for the standard 25-year franchise which was more in line with the Constitution.

“The issue is we must comply with the Constitution and laws and follow rule of law, ‘wag naman parang nilalaro ang Saligang Batas, otherwise we will become a banana republic. There has to be a certain degree of permanence in legislative actions. Congress must enact a law that is complete. What is Congress’ compelling reason not to grant a permanent franchise for 25 years?” said Enrile.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon argued there was nothing holding back the House from granting a franchise as long as it does not exceed 50 years as set under the Constitution.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)