By Vanne Elaine Terrazola If they had their way, the Senate would have easily approved the renewal of ABS-CBN's legislative franchise. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri (Senator Miguel Zubiri's Official Facebook Page / MANILA BULLETIN) This was according to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who said on Monday that "more than majority" of the senators agree with granting the embattled broadcast network another 25 years to operate. Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court to revoke ABS-CBN's legislative franchise for its alleged "abuse" and constitutional violations. "Marami naman sa amin dito ay pabor sa franchise ng ABS (Many of us here in Senate are in favor of approving the franchise of ABS-CBN). I personally am one of those who would vote in favor of the franchise of ABS," Zubiri told reporters in a chance interview. Members of the Senate, however, as required by the Constitution, have to wait for the House of Representatives' action before they are able to discuss the matter. "Unfortunately, it emanates from the House of Representatives. Under the Constitution, all of legislative franchises have to be passed first by the HOR being tackled in the Senate," Zubiri said. The Senate leader said senators have discussed informally the franchise of the ABS-CBN, which has been languishing in the House of Representatives since the 17th Congress. President Duterte had repeatedly vowed to block the renewal of their franchise. But should the Lower Chamber approve ABS-CBN's franchise and finally forward it to the Senate, Zubiri said they would "quickly" pass a similar measure on final reading, before the franchise expires. "We look at it differently in the Senate. Of course, meron sigurong tututol, pero marami sa amin ay pabor naman dahil institusyon na po ang ABS-CBN (some might oppose, but most of us are in favor of it because ABS-CBN is already considered an institution)," he said. Zubiri said the non-renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise would also affect its social and environmental programs, which has benefited Filipinos and the country. ABS-CBN's franchise, granted in 1995, will expire on March 30. Congress is scheduled to go on recess on March 14. Opposition Sen. Francis Pangilinan, meanwhile, joined his colleagues in invoking Congress' authority over the franchise granted to ABS-CBN. "We are mandated under the law to give proper course to any application, which Congress has granted smoothly to other networks," Pangilinan said in his statement. "Complaints against the network should be formally lodged before Congress to be tackled in the hearing, giving opportunity for all sides to be heard,” he added. "While networks are here for profit, they also exist for public service and as watchdog of government. Their continued operations should not be at the mercy of the government in power that they seek to guard." Read more: SolGen files quo warranto petition vs. ABS CBN