January 9th, 2025
I filed House Bill No. 11252, renewing the ABS-CBN franchise for another 25 years. I believe that the free market of ideas requires competition. A virtual monopoly will not do, as far as disseminating ideas and keeping the public informed is concerned.
I also owe it to Albay. ABS-CBN remains the single most important news source in Albay, despite its lack of a franchise.
The SEC and BIR have cleared ABS-CBN of the allegations against them. I was a former co-author of their franchise in the past Congress. You will remember that I even warned against the franchise rejection on grounds that it will add to COVID-19 infections due to lack of information.
I saw adding my name to the list of principal authors this time as a way to add my voice to what is clearly the right thing to do.