‘Busy’ Duterte to skip ABS-CBN hearing

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has too much on his plate to pay attention to the hearing to be conducted by a Senate panel on ABS-CBN’s franchise, Malacañang said Sunday, as it distanced itself from lawmakers’ discussions on the issue.

The Senate public services committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Monday on the network’s alleged violations of its franchise as well as the pending application of the renewal of its franchise.

The hearing has been set despite opposition by House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who claimed that the move would violate the Constitution.

Cayetano, a staunch ally of Duterte, has argued that under the Constitution, all bills of local application like franchise measures should emanate from the House.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III has disputed this, saying the hearing would focus on resolutions on whether ABSCBN’s franchise should be approved. Some senators have also pointed out that it has been standard parliamentary practice for the Senate to conduct parallel hearings on bills that should emanate from the House like the annual General Appropriations bill. ‘Duterte not interested’ Asked whether Duterte would monitor the Senate committee hearing, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the Chief Executive has a lot of work to do.

“Hindi interesado si Presidente. Maraming trabaho si

Presidente (The President is not interested. The President has a lot of work to do). Too much work,” Panelo said in a radio interview.

Panelo reiterated that Malacañang would not meddle in the activities of Congress. He also declined to comment on the Senate’s decision to cancel its regular session to give way to the hearing on the television network’s franchise.

“That’s their (Senate) decision. You know that the Palace does not interfere with the moves of Congress, the Senate, the House of Representatives. We have nothing to do with that. It’s their turf. We’ll not intrude into that,” the Palace spokesman said.

“Haven’t we stated our position on that? That’s the job of the Solicitor General. Let him do his job. Whatever the Supreme Court says, we will just comply,” he added. — Philstar.com