As the House of Representatives opened its session on Monday, two lawmakers filed separate resolutions calling for an investigation into the recent business partnerships and labor practices of ABS-CBN Corporation.
PROBE INTO BROADCAST PARTNERSHIPS
PHILRECA Party-list Representative Presley de Jesus filed a resolution to scrutinize the media firm’s various collaboration deals with existing free-to-air broadcasters. The inquiry focuses on ABS-CBN’s blocktime arrangement with ZOE Broadcasting Network (A2Z), its brand licensing agreement with Advanced Media Broadcasting System (ALLTV), and its content partnership with former rival GMA Network.
De Jesus raised concerns that these “backdoor” entries into free-to-air television might constitute violations of the broadcast franchises held by the partner networks.
ALLEGATIONS OF LABOR VIOLATIONS
Simultaneously, Kamanggagawa Party-list Representative Eli San Fernando submitted a resolution seeking to investigate reported Labor Code violations within the network. The move follows recent protests by ABS-CBN drivers who alleged “3-in-1” labor exploitation, claiming they are forced to perform camera work for minimal additional pay while remaining under agency-hired status despite years of service.
“In the service of the Filipino. These are the words that are proudly etched in ABS-CBN’s corporate mission… Ito ang pinagmamalaki at pinangangalandakan ng ABS-CBN,” San Fernando noted while questioning the company’s treatment of its workers.
CONTEXT OF THE FILING
The resolutions were introduced just one day before the sixth anniversary of the House of Representatives’ 2020 decision to deny ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise under the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Since then, the network has transitioned into a content provider, officially abandoning its bid for a new broadcast franchise in 2025 to focus on digital and partnership-based distribution.
ABS-CBN Corporation has yet to release an official statement regarding the newly filed House resolutions.