PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte will not interfere with the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN Corp. and will leave it to lawmakers to decide the fate of the media network through their conscience, his spokesman said.
In a briefing on Tuesday, Palace Spokesperson Harry L. Roque said the President is “neutral” about the recent issues raised against the TV network during the hearings on its franchise renewal at the House of Representatives.
“Ang Presidente naman po sinabi niya, the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience dahil siya po ay neutral (The President already said the members of Congress can vote according to their conscience because he is neutral),” Mr. Roque said.
Mr. Duterte in the past launched tirades against the TV network for not airing his ad during the presidential campaign in 2016. In a speech in December, he said: “I’ll see to it that you’re out.”
Early this year, he had a change of heart when he accepted ABS-CBN’s apology and told the company to donate to charity the refund money for the unaired ad.
On May 5, the National Telecommunications Commission shut down ABS-CBN’s free services despite its initial promise to allow the network to stay on air while the Congress hears its 25-year franchise renewal. ABS-CBN’s franchise expired on May 4.
Various issues against ABS-CBN were scrutinized by House lawmakers in recent hearings: from its tax payment to the shows aired by the Lopez-led network. The lawmakers are set to finish their hearings on the company this week. — Gillian M. Cortez
