The Philippines: Lawmakers float more sanctions vs ABS-CBN: PHP1.97tr fine, seizure of headquarters

• Although ABS-CBN’s employees and supporters have promised the fight for the embattled network is not over, its troubles also seem far from over, based on an online discussion by its accusers at the House of Representatives.
• In an online forum which has since gone viral, Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta (Sagip party-list), Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Remulla (Cavite) and Rep. Michael Defensor (Anakalusugan party-list) proposed imposing a PHP1.97tr fine on the network and seizing ABS-CBN’s headquarters in Quezon City.
• Although government agencies invited to a series of hearings on the network’s pending franchise addressed allegations hurled against ABS-CBN, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted to deny the application for a new franchise as if the allegations had been proven true.
• Still based on the unproven allegations, Marcoleta said he came up with the PHP1.97tr figure based on a daily PHP200 fine, for alleged violations of the terms of the network’s lapsed franchise, compounded over a period of more than five years.

External Link : https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2020/07/20/2029345/lawmakers-float-more-sanctions-vs-abs-cbn-p197-t-fine-seizure-headquarters