On non-expiration of franchise: Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, during the Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes virtual hearing Wednesday, May 27, 2020, says Senate Bill 1530, which aims to amend Section 18, Book VII, Chapter 3 of the Administrative Code of the Philippines or the Non-expiration of License or Franchise, would not diminish the power of Congress to legislate franchises. Drilon, noting that the National Telecommunications Commission did not issue before cease and desist order against other broadcast stations with expired franchises, said the measure would remedy the unequal protection of the law that ABS-CBN Broadcast Corp. had suffered. (Screen grab/Senate PRIB)
MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte should use his popularity and much-vaunted political will to enact a law prohibiting political dynasties if he really wants to banish oligarchy in the country, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said on Wednesday.
The senator was reacting to Mr. Duterte’s speech in Jolo, Sulu, on Tuesday when he claimed to have “dismantled” the country’s oligarchy “without imposing martial law.”
Oligarchs are bad for business, Drilon said, “but let’s make sure that the oligarchs are not substituted by cronies.”
