30/07/2026
House of Representatives’ hearings on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal in 2020 that include both Rodante Marcoleta and Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla. Both lawmakers were among the most prominent participants during the congressional deliberations that eventually led to the denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise application.
Rodante Marcoleta and Jesus Crispin Remulla became two of the most visible figures opposing the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation during the 13 congressional hearings held in 2020. Both eventually voted to deny the network’s application for a new 25-year franchise. 
Marcoleta was regarded as the principal critic of ABS-CBN during the hearings. He argued that the network had committed violations of its previous franchise, the Constitution, and existing laws. Among the issues he repeatedly raised were the alleged use of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) that he claimed gave foreigners economic rights over the company, questions regarding the dual citizenship of former chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, alleged tax avoidance schemes involving subsidiaries, labor issues, and alleged political bias in its news and election-related activities. He maintained that a legislative franchise is a privilege rather than a right and that ABS-CBN had failed to prove it deserved another one. 
Remulla likewise voted against the franchise renewal and participated in the hearings by raising issues involving the network’s corporate structure, tax practices, and alleged violations of franchise conditions. Following the committee vote, he joined Marcoleta and other lawmakers in publicly defending their decision, arguing that their opposition was based on legal and regulatory issues rather than press freedom concerns. 
The Technical Working Group that recommended the denial of the franchise cited several issues discussed during the hearings, including:
• Alleged constitutional issues relating to foreign ownership restrictions.
• Questions surrounding the citizenship of Gabby Lopez.
• The issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts.
• Alleged tax-related issues and corporate arrangements.
• Labor practices involving contractual workers.
• Alleged violations of franchise provisions and concerns over political neutrality.
• Questions regarding the operation of digital television services before the grant of an appropriate authority. 
On July 10, 2020, after weeks of hearings, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted 70-11 to deny ABS-CBN’s franchise application. Marcoleta and Remulla were among the 70 lawmakers who voted in favor of the resolution denying the franchise.
