In May 2020, lawmakers blamed Cayetano accountable for the shutdown of the Philippines' largest broadcasting station ABS-CBN, due to his inaction on several bills seeking to renew the station's franchise. Cayetano blamed Solicitor General Jose Calida and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for the subsequent closure of ABS-CBN, stating that "the NTC appears to have succumbed to pressure from the Solicitor General and issued a cease and desist order to ABS-CBN." He warned, "as for the sudden flip-flopping of the NTC and the unconstitutional meddling by the Solicitor General in the business of Congress, I promise you, there will be a reckoning." In July 2020, the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN has been rejected by the House of Representatives, voted 70–11 to deny the application citing political reasons and several issues on the network's franchise. Cayetano revealed that he intentionally reject the network's franchise from the very start, stating that "we simply put an end to the privilege of one family" and that "Filipinos will see that this is simply part of this season's uprooting of the weeds and a reclaiming our patrimony from the oligarchs." The rejection of ABS-CBN franchise resulted in a massive retrenchment of its workers, permanent closure of the operations of several businesses, and network transfers and resignations. Cayetano's decision was praised by a rejoicing Calida, who claimed continuous victory in silencing ABS-CBN.