IPINAUBAYA na ng Malakanyang sa Korte Suprema ang usapin ng pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa media giant network na ABS-CBN Corporation.

Ito’y matapos sabihin ng ilang grupo na ‘feasible’ ang people’s initiative para buhayin ang franchise bill ng nasabing kumpanya.

Ani Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, bahala na ang Korte Suprema sa usaping ito, kung ang people’s initiative ay maaaring gamitin sa kaso ng ABS-CBN.

“Whether the franchise of ABS-CBN may be granted through a people’s initiative despite the clear wording of R.A. 7925, whether it matters that a franchise bill is a private bill that must “originate exclusively in the House of Representatives” in accordance with Article VI, Section 24 of the Constitution — these and related questions we leave to the Supreme Court, as the final arbiter of the appropriate interpretation of these provisions in the Constitution and our laws,” ayon kay Sec. Roque.

“We will defer to the Court if ever it rules on this issue in the future,” dagdag na pahayag ni Sec. Roque.

Sa ulat, isang law professor mula sa University of Santo Tomas ang nagmungkahi na idaan sa people’s initiative ang pagbibigay ng prangkisa sa ABS-CBN.

Nakasaad ito sa 1987 Constitution at sa Republic Act 6735 o The Initiative and Referendum Act na isinabatas noong 1989. (CHRISTIAN DALE)