House calls for inquiry on ABS-CBN Franchise issue

Congressmen led by Davao representative and presidential son Paolo Duterte filed a resolution on Monday calling for an investigation into ABS-CBN's alleged violations of its legislative franchise terms. 

House Resolution 853 cites the allegations that ABS-CBN had been charging money for channels that were supposed to air for free.

“By charging the public with its pay-per-view Kapamilya Box Office (KBO) channel through ABS-CBN TV Plus, it has been gaining huge profits at the expense of the public while using the air frequencies provided by the government for free,” said the resolution. 

The resolution also noted ABS-CBN’s issuance of Philippine Depository Receipts (PDRs) to non-Filipino citizens through ABS-CBN Holdings which the lawmakers said is a violation of Section 11, Article XVI of the 1987 Constitution.

The only two representatives to sign Duterte’s resolution were Cavite rep. Abraham Tolentino and party-list ACT-CIS (Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support) rep. Eric Go Yap. 

The Federation of International Cable TV Associates of the Philippines (FICTAP) was among the groups that opposed ABS-CBN’s continued operations. It also accused the network of violating the terms of its congressional franchise. 

The Philippine Cable and Telecommunication Association (PCTA), another cable TV group, put its support behind ABS-CBN when the order for the network’s closure was given.