ABS-CBN abides by tax, labor and corporate laws — gov't
MANILA, Philippines — Embattled broadcast giant ABS-CBN Corp. pays the right taxes, follows corporate regulations and complies with all labor laws, state officials revealed on Monday
In a hearing by a Senate panel on Monday, the government cleared ABS-CBN of any tax deficiencies, a key criticism held by some quarters against the network's franchise renewal.
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Senators also inquired about the network's labor practices
With ABS-CBN cleared of any labor malpractices, tax evasion and corporate wrongdoing,
Duterte has repeatedly mentioned he would block any bill that would renew ABS-CBN's franchise for another 25 years even as his alter-egos also insist the matter of extending the franchise is better left to Congress.
Under the Constitution, Duterte can veto a bill that passed by both houses of Congress. A vote of two-thirds of legislature
"Is the President mad at you that is why you are having a difficult time?" Senator Lito Lapid said in the hearing, to which ABS-CBN chair Martin Lopez responded that they can only make a guess as to the supposed "anger" of the president to ABS-CBN "based on TV reports and pronouncements of the President" himself.
The Senate public services committee held the hearing on Monday after the House of Representatives sat on ABS-CBN's franchise bill since 2016, the first time
Since then, the network has repeatedly refiled the measure in the legislature, and
While the Senate hearing helped clear issues for ABS-CBN, senators are on a bind to proceed with
House Speaker Alan Cayetano, a Duterte ally, was quick to say that the formal legislative process will not begin until May. Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, in the Senate hearing earlier, said that ABS-CBN may have until May 4 before its current franchise expires, not until March 30 as most people believe, because the franchise only takes effect 15 days after publication.
Even then, the network still faces a court case filed by no less than the solicitor-general before the Supreme Court, seeking to invalidate its already-expiring franchise.
ABS-CBN shares rose 17% on Monday, bucking a 2.
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