Congress holds key to ABS-CBN franchise

CONGRESS could come up with a resolution authorizing the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue a temporary permit so that ABS-CBN Corp. could continue operating if lawmakers fail to renew its franchise this year, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said on Monday.

Guevarra made the point during the Senate inquiry to determine if the media giant violated its franchise. He clarified that the franchise expires on May 4, not on March 30, as was widely believed.