Solicitor General Jose Calida gave some words of appreciation to the House of Representatives for its decision to deny a franchise renewal to the ABS-CBN Corporation.
Calid had previously filed a quo warranto petition against the media giant last February, where he detailed alleged violations of the firm.
Calida thanked the congressmen for their job well done, describing the hearings as “fair, impartial, comprehensive and thorough”.
“Justice has been served,” Calida said in a statement.
With a 70-11 vote and three abstains, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted its technical working group’s recommendation not to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.
Calida noted that the committee’s resolution made mention of his arguments in the petition he had filed with the Supreme Court against ABS-CBN.
This includes the company allegedly violating the terms of its franchise by launching KBO pay-per-view channel without the National Telecommunications Commission’s permission and allowing foreign investors to “take part in ownership of a Philippine mass media entity” through issuing Philippine depository receipts.
The Solicitor General also expressed his stance that this does not restrain press freedom.
