Rappler's latest stories on House of Representatives
Cayetano on ABS-CBN: 'Reclaiming patrimony from oligarchs'
A blow to press freedom? Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano says killing the ABS-CBN franchise is all about ending 'the privilege of one family'

Dugo ng 11,000 nasa kamay ng 70 mambabatas
Huling ipinasara ang ABS-CBN nang idineklara ang Martial Law sa bansa noong 1972, pero ngayon, testamento ito sa pag-iral ng 'virtual martial law'

Bacolod youth, campus journalists show solidarity with ABS-CBN
'Today, we grieve. But tomorrow, we make sure that truth and democracy shall continue to live,' the young rallyists say

Senator Recto: ABS-CBN does not deserve death penalty
'A noisy press, all the more the sound from outlets which does not please our ears, is the soundtrack of democracy,' says Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto
In House panel report, ABS-CBN accused of favoring Robredo in 2016
But ABS-CBN denies backing any candidate in the 2016 elections, which saw Vice President Leni Robredo defeat Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and 5 other male vice presidential bets

Ex-Kapamilya Legarda, Vargas explain their silence during ABS-CBN voting
Representatives Loren Legarda and Alfred Vargas were Kapamilya before they joined politics

'Personal grudges, interests' prevailed in rejection of ABS-CBN franchise – academics
The Philippine Association of Communication Educators promises to join electoral education initiatives 'to remind voters that no one, not even lawmakers, shall curtail press freedom'

Read, respect House panel's rejection of ABS-CBN franchise – Cayetano
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano says the committee members gave 'serious consideration' to all the merits of ABS-CBN's franchise before putting it to a vote

Sectoral groups vow to remember how House panel voted on ABS-CBN franchise
‘The people will hold them responsible for any resulting layoffs, any denial or limitation in information, and any attacks to press freedom and expression resulting from this shutdown’

After House vote vs ABS-CBN, Angel Locsin's appeal: 'Now is not the time to stay silent'
'Nakikiusap po ako, now is the time. Gamitin natin ang boses natin para sa tama,' the actress says

'Big blow against press freedom': ABS-CBN franchise bill authors slam panel verdict
But these lawmakers can't file an appeal on behalf of ABS-CBN, as only those who voted with the majority – the legislators who rejected the franchise – can make a motion for reconsideration as per House rules

Filipinos online lament impact of ABS-CBN franchise application rejection
‘I won’t be able to get updates on what’s happening around me [especially] during this typhoon season,’ says one Facebook user

After junking franchise, House panel wants to probe ABS-CBN property, digital TV
The House committee on legislative franchises also recommends an inquiry on the sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts by all industries required to be 100% Filipino-owned, including media

ABS-CBN’s battle is also ours
Rappler’s statement on ABS-CBN: ‘Learning from the lessons of history, journalists and other freedom-loving citizens must speak up because to be silent is to be complicit’

Robredo warns of 'chilling effect' on media after rejection of ABS-CBN franchise
'Our choice of leaders matters.... Kaya't tandaan natin ang mga pangalan ng kongresista at opisyal na tumaliwas sa ating mga paniniwala,' says Vice President Leni Robredo

After franchise rejection, ABS-CBN says: 'Kapit lang'
(UPDATED) CEO Carlo Katigbak says they will find other ways to achieve their mission of public service

‘We will remember’: Netizens demand justice after rejection of ABS-CBN franchise
Social media users called on one another to vote wisely in the 2022 elections after 70 House committee members voted against the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise

'We will fight back': Media groups slam House panel for denying ABS-CBN franchise
(UPDATED) Despite the denial of the franchise, media groups vow to continue exhausting all means to bring ABS-CBN back on air

ABS-CBN stars heartbroken after House committee rejects network's franchise
(UPDATED) Anne Curtis,Liza Soberano, Julia Barretto, Kim Chiu, Joshua Garcia, and many others express their dismay on social media

IN PHOTOS: ABS-CBN stars call for franchise renewal at Batasang Pambansa
The stars, including Piolo Pascual and Kathryn Bernardo, hold signs that say, 'Defend Press Freedom' and 'Stand with ABS-CBN workers'

House committee rejects franchise for ABS-CBN
(4th UPDATE) The Philippines' largest media network has 24 hours to appeal the decision of the House committee on legislative franchises

[DOCUMENT] House panel's working group recommends rejecting ABS-CBN's franchise
(2nd UPDATE) The House committee on legislative franchises says ABS-CBN's alleged violations 'weighs heavily against' the network's franchise application

LIVE: House hearing on ABS-CBN franchise renewal
Watch the House session live on Friday, July 10, at 1 pm


ABS-CBN defenders make last stand: ‘Why punish a company that did not breach laws?’
The House committee on legislative franchises' technical working group will draft recommendations on whether to grant ABS-CBN a franchise. They may vote on July 10, 2020.

Cayetano again says ABS-CBN franchise not press freedom issue
'I submit that this is not press freedom; it is the theft of government from the people while hiding under the pretense of press freedom,' says Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano

Party-list reps Paduano, Salo withdraw authorship of ABS-CBN franchise bills
The party-list congressmen say ABS-CBN failed to properly rebut the allegations thrown at the network in the past month

Cayetano hits ‘mind-conditioning’ ahead of ABS-CBN franchise vote
Though he did not name anyone, the Speaker may be referring to talks that the president's son and House Deputy Speaker Paolo Duterte, and the influential Iglesia ni Cristo are reportedly lobbying to kill ABS-CBN's franchise

Scenarios: What happens to ABS-CBN franchise after House panel vote?
We tackle 3 possible scenarios for the embattled network, which is at risk of staying off-air for the remainder of the Duterte presidency

Automated DSWD subsidy a problem in far-flung areas with no ATMs
Only 1.3 million out of the targeted 13.5 million poor families have received the second tranche of the cash aid promised to them

LIVE: House hearing on DSWD's emergency subsidy program
Watch the hearing live on Monday, June 22, at 1 pm

ABS-CBN failed to air ads of many candidates, not just Duterte's
ABS-CBN says presidential bet Mar Roxas and vice presidential candidates Leni Robredo, Alan Peter Cayetano, and Antonio Trillanes IV are among those who have unaired ads during the 2016 campaign

ABS-CBN news chief Ging Reyes: 'We're not perfect, we strive to keep biases in check'
During the 12th joint House hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise, Reyes defends the network against accusations of irresponsible journalism

Cayetano on ‘conscience vote’ in ABS-CBN franchise: ‘I cannot speak for parties’
While President Duterte has repeatedly threatened the broadcast network, the Speaker says, ‘This is one of the rare cases where representatives will decide for the people’

House panels to seek NBI probe into ABS-CBN's 'deception' in hearings
House Senior Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Crispin 'Boying' Remulla wants the National Bureau of Investigation to launch a probe into ABS-CBN, and also into the 'cyberbullying' against lawmakers

Camarines Sur congresswoman Marissa Andaya dies of cancer
Former congressman Rolando Andaya Jr says his wife Marissa was a 'cancer warrior' for 7 years

House poised to grill ABS-CBN on 2016 election coverage
The 2016 election coverage of ABS-CBN has long been an issue for President Rodrigo Duterte and his allies, including his former running mate, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano
Makati Business Club again urges lawmakers to renew ABS-CBN franchise
'Equal treatment of all companies – especially by regulators, prosecutors, and lawmakers – will signal that rule of law prevailed,' says the Makati Business Club

Opposition lawmakers: Resist anti-terror law – the 'death warrant to human rights'
'We will show them that in the face of repression, an awakened people will resist and fight back' says Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate

Remulla: Amcara Broadcasting Network is ABS-CBN’s ‘dummy’
(UPDATED) Amcara executives admit that its transmitters for its digital services were provided by ABS-CBN, and that Channel 43's airtime was devoted to ABS-CBN's digital channels

Makabayan bloc seeks House probe into StaySafe's data privacy issues
'From the process of selection, effectivity, and data privacy, the interests of the Filipino people are put to great risk,' say progressive lawmakers pushing for the investigation

Caught on video, Remulla sorry for writing note during ‘Lupang Hinirang’
The deputy speaker blames ‘ABS-CBN people’ for ‘playing it up on social media’

ABS-CBN’s Big Dipper, Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation ‘not tax avoidance schemes’
ABS-CBN Group chief financial officer Ricardo Tan also debunks allegations the network supposedly recorded a negative 5% effective tax rate in 2018

In ABS-CBN hearing, House tackles labor conditions in TV networks
Are alleged unfair labor practices even a ground to deny a franchise? Lawyer Tony La Viña says it is up to Congress, where franchise renewals 'are not legal proceedings but political in nature'

Lawmakers threaten graft case vs NTC's Cordoba for allowing ABS-CBN TV Plus to continue
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba argues ABS-CBN TV Plus and Channel 43 are supposedly covered by the cease and desist order issued versus the network, but the NTC fails to strictly implement its own issuance


House to set aside funds for COVID-19 vaccine in 2021 budget
'What if there is a vaccine and they won't supply unless you pay at once? So the funds should already be available in the budget,' says Speaker Alan Cayetano

In the middle of pandemic, Paolo Duterte, 2 other lawmakers want to rename NAIA
The Duterte-allied congressmen want to rename the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to 'Paliparang Pandaigdig ng Pilipinas'

Lawmaker slams DSWD for distribution policies that caused crowds
Making cash aid beneficiaries line up at distribution points could have caused COVID-19 transmission, says Anakalusugan Representative Mike Defensor

Cayetano: Congress can amend or repeal anti-terror law if abuses happen
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano also appeals to the military to 'work together' with the government to ensure there will be 'zero abuses' should the anti-terror bill becomes law

After Ressa conviction, lawmaker seeks 1-year prescription period for cyber libel
Cagayan de Oro City 2nd District Representative Rufus Rodriguez says explicitly putting this in the Cybercrime Law would ''put to rest the issue of prescription of the crime of cyber libel'

E. Visayas lawmakers seek review of ‘Hatid Probinsya’ after spike in coronavirus cases
The 14 lawmakers say Eastern Visayas was free from coronavirus cases for weeks until the 'Hatid Probinsya' program was implemented
