Lawmakers blame Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano for dilly dallying on the bill seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
The media network went off air on May 5 after receiving a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Buhay Representative Lito Atienza and Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman have expressed their dismay on the House leadership’s inaction on the issue.
Atienza said in an interview with ANC that it was Congress that failed to do its part and NTC was merely acting on the basis of law.
“Kasalanan namin ito eh. Kasalanan ng Kongreso ito. But more important, I’d like to say, squarely, kasalanan ni Speaker Cayetano ito. Pagkukulang niya ito sa bayan,”
“It may not be today, but later on, this issue will hound him because he was the one who did not do his job. Even the President kept on reminding him to do your job, magtrabaho kayo, aksyunan nyo ‘yan,” Atienza said.
Meanwhile, Lagman, who earlier warned that Congress has the sole power to grant the giant media network an authority to continue its broadcast, said that NTC should not be used as a “scapegoat”.
Lagman said, “The provisional authority given by House Speaker Alan Cayetano to NTC is against the law and jurisprudence.”
