Media network to donate P2.6-M refund from unaired political ads
ABS-CBN Corp. will follow President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s advice to just donate the P2.6-million refund that he declined to accept to a charitable institution.
The network also thanked Mr. Duterte for accepting the apology of Carlo L. Katigbak, the company’s president and chief executive officer.
On Wednesday, the President said he would not accept the P2.6 million being refunded by the embattled network for not airing his campaign ad during the 2016 presidential elections.
He said ABS-CBN should just donate the money to any charitable institution.
The Lopez-led company said in a statement on Thursday: “We are grateful and humbled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of our apology.”
“We will coordinate with the President’s office as it relates to his guidance on donating the refund to a charitable institution,” ABS-CBN added.
It also said that it “remains committed to becoming a better organization and to continue to provide more meaningful service to Filipinos.”
The Office of the Solicitor General has filed a quo warranto petition seeking the cancellation of the legislative franchises of ABS-CBN Corp. and ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. for supposedly violating the laws on foreign ownership restriction and for operating a pay-per-view channel, among others.
The Senate on Monday tackled the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, which Mr. Duterte threatened to shut down.
The Justice department said the network may continue operating without the approval of Congress, noting that lawmakers could file a resolution authorizing the National Telecommunications Commission to issue a provisional permit to ABS-CBN. — Arjay L. Balinbin
