NOW: Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano delivering sponsorship speech on #ABSCBNfranchise renewal bill before the House as a Committee of the Whole.

WATCH:

Cayetano: You cannot hope to weigh the value of the immediate response to the pandemic vs the concerns of a private corporation, there is simply no comparison. Yet, this is exactly what the NTC has forced us to do by turning back on its on commitment given under oath

Cayetano points out NTC has never issued a provisional authority, but it has also never issued a cease and desist order while a renewal bill is pending

Cayetano: Yes, there were some days that I did not speak about ABS-CBN. Why? Because we were talking about DSWD, social amelioration, stimulus bill. Ano, tatalikuran ko lahat ng trabaho ko? Para lang i-address lahat ng concerns about ABS-CBN?

Cayetano: Today is not the time for ABS-CBN, but I remembered what my father always said-- that it is always the right time to do what is right. It was wrong for the gov't, without due process, to stop the broadcasting of ABS-CBN, especially during this pandemic.

Cayetano: This was never a press freedom issue. This is about the law that requires that every 25 years, a network must make its case to Congress why it deserves another 25 years | via @R_G_Cruz888

Cayetano takes NTC, Solicitor General to task for not informing them of their positions ASAP | via @R_G_Cruz888

Cayetano calling out media for calling for approval of ABS-CBN franchise bill blindly | via @R_G_Cruz888

Cayetano to media: Hindi po magiging tama ang desisyon ng Congress if we will act speedily for the sake of acting speedily. I cannot respect that. Do not weaponize this issue for you personal agenda. This is a disservice to the very public who you claim to stand for.

Cayetano: Some may say they are in the service of the Filipino people, pero sa gitna ng sakuna, gusto niyo kayo ang unahin namin kaysa sa kababayan natin.

Cayetano: Eh kayo nga isang dahilan bakit may isyu ang network na ito. Sa mata ng marami, klarong biased at pakikialam sa eleksyon ang ginawa ninyo at ginamit ninyo ang network na ito, 2004, 2010, 2016 at 2019. Tapos tatakpan niyo yan, 'it is press freedom'

Cayetano addresses celebrities of ABS-CBN, tells them not to blame public servants when they lose their paychecks because of grave issues | via @R_G_Cruz888

Cayetano addresses colleagues who criticized the House for failing to act on the ABS-CBN franchise when the House was busy with other bills | via @R_G_Cruz888

Cayetano: Sa mga dilawan, nothing I say will make you agree with me. You don't agree on the facts, simply because you think your opinions are law and are always correct. Former senator Trillanes and you deserve each other.

Cayetano to Duterte supporters: I know you want to shutdown ABS-CBN. I hear you. As a friend and ally of the President, part of the purpose of this hearing is to make sure history will judge our actions as just and Duterte admin will not be blamed in case the franchise is denied

Cayetano: ABS-CBN was there during Yolanda. We also know ABS-CBN was there when places were ravaged by the explosion of Taal. Hindi namin tinatanggal 'yan sa network ninyo. Nandoon po kayo, ngunit kailangan pa ring sagutin ang katanungan ng mga tao.

Cayetano to ABS-CBN: You said yourself, through your officers, you are not perfect. You are not a perfect network, and I agree. No one is perfect. And that is why we need these hearings.

Cayetano to ABS-CBN and other members of the media: Simple do you job. Do not fear. Call out injustice and corruption when you see it. Protect the weak from the powerful and give voice to the voiceless. This is your mandate.

Cayetano to ABS-CBN and other members of the media: Speak the truth freely and fearlessly to power. but beware that you do not become the power that you hope to check

Cayetano on previous statement that he will personally switch on ABS-CBN's transmitter in case of shutdown order: Hindi ba voluntarily pinatay ninyo ang transmitter niyo? Wala pa namang nag-e-enforce nun e

Cayetano: But I respect yung diskarte niyo. Yan ang naging strategy, yan desisyon niyo. Maybe you want to humble yourself before the law. Maybe gusto niyo magpaawa.

PH House Speaker Cayetano sponsors bill granting ABS-CBN provisional franchise until October 31, 2020. #ABSCBNfranchise https://twitter.com/ABSCBNNews/status/1260485146404425735

JUST IN: Committee of the Whole approves HB 6732, which seeks to grant ABS-CBN a provisional franchise until October 31, 2020, in ayes and nayes vote | via @R_G_Cruz888