- President Rodrigo Duterte said he doesn’t want to renew ABS-CBN franchise.
- He accused the Network as thieves.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he is not keen on renewing the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN (if he had it his way).
The President is on an offensive side (again) versus broadcast giant ABS-CBN after said he won’t renew its franchise if it is just up to him.
On his inauguration speech in a drug rehabilitation center in Bukidnon, he slammed ABS-CBN for its alleged biased reporting and swindling.
“Now, ABS-CBN, their franchise is due for renewal. They sent emissaries to me. They sent Gabby away because nothing will happen. I will not talk to you, but I will also never intervene. But if I had my way, I would not give it back to you,” the President said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise which will end in 2020 is up for renewal in Congress. But Duterte wants it blocked (if given the chance).
“Magnanakaw kayo eh, linoloko niyo ‘yung maliliit (You are thieves, you trick the small people),” Duterte added.
Currently, the House Bill 4349, the bill which seeks to renew the franchise granted to ABS-CBN for 25 years is still pending at the committee level.
Duterte has been at odds with the country’s largest media network ABS-CBN after the latter purportedly didn’t show his political campaign ads.
As early as April 2017, Duterte already said he does not want to renew ABS-CBN‘s franchise because they swindled him.
According to the President, he will file a complaint to the Congress so that ABS-CBN‘s franchise won’t be renewed because they did not show his political ads during the 2016 election campaign season even though they have already paid for it.
