Gustong hawakan sa leeg? Salo’s ABS-CBN franchise bill prohibits airing of anti-gov’t propaganda

By JOHN CARLO M. CAHINHINAN

It seems that allies of House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano are trying to prevent embattled network giant ABS-CBN from broadcasting anti-government materials once lawmakers finally approve its new congressional franchise.

Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo last week filed the 13th bill that seeks to grant a fresh 25-year franchise to the Kapamilya network but also imposed at least seven conditions which might affect its future new reporting.

Section 5(6) of Salo’s House Bill No. 6901 imposes a “strengthened self-regulations of contents” to the Lopez-owned media conglomerate which “shall not allow” the airing of “any speeches, plays, acts or scenes, or other material through broadcast and/or telecast if the tendency thereof is to propose and/or incite to treason, rebellion, and sedition.”

“The holder of the broadcast franchise shall ensure that within its organization, there is in place a strong mechanism that will regulate its content,” the provision of HB 6901 read.

Section 3 of HB 6901 also mandates ABS-CBN to “ensure impartial and balance reporting” and that “all parties involved in such news or events are allowed equal time and opportunity for information-sharing.”

Meanwhile, Section 5(5) of HB 6901 will mandate ABS-CBN to allocate 10 percent of its paid commercials or advertisements “based on the need to the executive, legislative, judiciary, constitutional commissions, and other international humanitarian organizations duly recognized by statutes.”

Salo also has introduced a condition under Section 5(7) that will give an affordable election advertisement rates for political candidates and under Section 5(5) which mandates the Lopez firm to allocate 10 percent of its paid commercials or advertisements “based on the need to the executive, legislative, judiciary, constitutional commissions, and other international humanitarian organizations duly recognized by statutes.”

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