House joint panels on Legislative Franchises and on Good Gov’t and Public Accountability begin hearing on the bills granting ABS-CBN another 25-year franchise. | via @erwincolcol

ABS-CBN executives, including Carlo Katigbak, Martin Lopez, and Cory Vidanes, are also present in the hearing. | via @erwincolcol

House good gov’t panel chair Jonathan Sy-Alvarado notes the absence of SolGen Jose Calida in the meeting.

Alvarado: He should be enjoined to attend in future hearings and explain his side why he should not be held in contempt. | via @erwincolcol

House franchise panel chair Franz Alvarez instructs their committee secretariats to write letters to the SolGen, enjoining it to attend to their succeeding hearings.

"Otherwise, we will resort to compulsory processes,” he added. | via @erwincolcol

Speaker Cayetano now delivers his opening speech. | via @erwincolcol

Cayetano: By allowing the people to hear both sides, what is popular and what is right will hopefully intersect. | via @erwincolcol

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Cayetano: Ang tama ay pakinggan ang bawat panig, dinggin ang mga facts, bigyan ng pagkakataong magsalita ang bawat isa at magdesisyon nang patas.

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Cayetano: This hearing is not just about the network and its franchise. It is also about Congess and how we conduct ourselves. | via @erwincolcol

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Cayetano: And this I will promise: We will listen to the facts as they are presented and weigh the opinions as they are given. But we will not be bullied, we will not be threatened, we will not be ignored, nor manipulated from doing our duty, from doing what is right. @erwincolcol

Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. explains the rules to be followed in the conduct of the hearings on the ABS-CBN franchise. | via @erwincolcol

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Garbin: Maglalaan tayo ng hearing sa bawat issue na kailangang talakayin. And each hearing for a particular issue, unang magppresenta ang ABS-CBN at pagkatapos ay susundan ng tao o partidong kontra dito. | via @erwincolcol

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Garbin said resource persons such as experts may also be invited in the hearings. | via @erwincolcol

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Garbin: Only the members of the committee are allowed to vote. | via @erwincolcol

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Garbin: Ang prosesong nabanggit ay isang guide para sa pagdining na ito. The joint committee should not be bound by strict adherence to technicalities when it comes to finding out the truth. | via @erwincolcol

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Garbin: May mga pagkakataon na maging maluwag tayo upang masigurado natin ang makatarungan at mabilis na pagresolba ng mga issues. | via @erwincolcol

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House franchise panel chair Franz Alvarez the sponsorship speeches of the proponents of the measure will be made in another hearing. | via @erwincolcol

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Alvarez: All the 11 bills for franchise renewal will be amended and consolidated to the bill of Cong. Rufus Rodriguez for a new grant.

Rodriguez proposed to grant ABS-CBN a new 25-year franchise after its previous franchise expired last May 4. | via @erwincolcol

ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak now delivers his opening remarks. | via @erwincolcol

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Katigbak: Sa mga nakalipas na linggo, nagdurusa ang pamilya ko. Nag-aalala sila na mawawalan sila ng trabaho. Natatakot sila para sa kanilang kinabukasan at ng kanilang mahal sa buhay. | via @erwincolcol

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Katigbak: Sana pakinggan niyo ang boses ng aming kapamilya. | via @erwincolcol

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Katigbak: And we agree, the law is the law. And under the law, we are innocent unless proven guilty. | via @erwincolcol

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Katigbak: Masakit itong nangyari sa amin. Umasa kami sa hangarin ninyo at ng Senado na habang pinag-uusapan ang aming prangkisa, hindi kami mawawala sa ere. Sa pag-shutdown namin, marami sa aming kababayan ang nawalan ng serbisyo ng ABS-CBN lalo na sa panahon ng pandemya.

Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta to deliver the opening statement of those who oppose the franchise application of ABS-CBN. | @erwincolcol

In reference to the viral “Bawal Lumabas” video of Kapamilya actress Kim Chiu, Marcoleta says: Hindi nag-comply sa batas ang ABS-CBN kaya hindi sila pwedeng lumabas at magpalabas. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: Those opposing the franchise application of ABS-CBN will show with clear and convincing evidence that ABS-CBN did not comply with the terms and conditions of its franchise as well as our laws and the Constitution. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: Salamat at ganap na nandigin si Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano at hindi inalintana ang mga tuligsa sa kanya at pinayagan niya na magkaroon ng patas, bukas at malawakang pagdinig sa mga alegasyong ito. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: Hindi na dapat payagan ang pagrerenew ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. Dapat na isara ang pinto para sa kanila. Because the ABS-CBN has been using the airwaves for more than 50 years. Our Constitution says Congress can grant a franchise of up to 50 years only. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: The Committee on Legislative Franchises should not allow itself to be used by ABS-CBN to circumvent the Constitution and violate the categorical 50-year limitation imposed on franchises. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta says that even if the 13 years when the ABS-CBN went off air during the Marcos regime were subtracted, the network still has been using the airwaves for 50 years. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: Ibig sabihin, tapos na at paso pa rin ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN with or without martial law. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta claims that ABS-CBN’s former president Gabby Lopez III was an American citizen when he took the helm of the company in 1986, which he said is a violation of the constitutional provision that media companies should be 100% Filipino-owned. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta also alleged that ABS-CBN committed labor laws and denied its employees the benefits provided by the law. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: ABS-CBN has not regularized its contractual workers and talents despite performing the functions of regular workers. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: It even forced some of its workers to sign employment contracts containing waiver of the right to regularization, and those who refused were unceremoniously terminated from work. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta tells ABS-CBN: Huwag niyong isasangkalan ngayon ang inyong mga manggagawa at ang kanilang pamilya. Hindi ganun. Sasagutin niyo ang mga alegasyong ito hindi sa pamamagitan ng emotional appeal. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: It is also a matter of record that ABS-CBN failed to air some of President Duterte's political advertisements during the 2016 campaign period despite receiving the payment of these political ads. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: ABS-CBN violated the terms and conditions of its franchise by offering its TV Plus boxes for one-time fee but using the free-to-air signals authorized in the franchise granted by Congress at no cost to ABS-CBN. | @erwincolcol

Marcoleta: We believe that it is but right for the House to deny this time the franchise of ABS-CBN for flagrantly violating the Constitution and related laws, even its own franchise, making it unworthy for the grant of this special privilege by the state. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: I'd just like to appeal sa members ng leniency kay Solicitor General, at kahit today natin ni-schedule yung opening statement, bigyan pa natin siya ng pagkakataon sa next hearing to make the opening statement. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: Kung irereview niyo ang statements niya and statements ng Malacañang, very clear na hindi siya inutusan ng Pangulo na pumunta sa korte para gawin ang posisyon niya. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: Very clear that the champion of exposing the alleged violations of ABS-CBN is Solicitor General. That doesn't exclude the other champions who are here today and other oppositors who have been interviewed on specific alleged violations. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: But si SolGen ang nakapag-put together nung allegations, nung proof, nung ebidensya, nung witnesses. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: I don't think we can explain today sa ating publiko yung sub judice rule yung kine-claim ni SolGen. But I'd like to make two points. Kung ganun ang interpretasyon ng sub judice rule, walang hearing na magaganap sa Kongreso. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: I don't think we can explain today sa ating publiko yung sub judice rule yung kine-claim ni SolGen. But I'd like to make two points. Kung ganun ang interpretasyon ng sub judice rule, walang hearing na magaganap sa Kongreso. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: Chairman Alvarado already stated that we will be sending him a letter but also to extend him the courtesy na makapagprepare din siya ng opening statement…. | @erwincolcol

Cayetano: ...but at least a summary on the allegations sa ABS so that to be fair to our executives from ABS-CBN at sa kanilang mga empleyado na masagot naman nila punto por punto. | @erwincolcol

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga delivers the closing statement, summarizing all the points raised by the ABS-CBN management and Rep. Marcoleta. | @erwincolcol

Barzaga: Minumungkahi ko sa ating mga chairpersons at mag-schedule tayo ng hearing, at nabanggit naman ng ating Majority Floor Leader, bibigyan niya ng karapatan ang mga committee na magkaroon ng session even during the time that we are in recess. | @erwincolcol

Katigbak says they are ready to submit their documents by Thursday. | @erwincolcol

Alvarez suspends hearing. The next hearing is set on Monday, from 9 am to 1 pm. | @erwincolcol