The President’s latest address to the nation, which supposedly meant to provide updates on the country’s pandemic efforts, touched again one of President Duterte’s apparently, favorite topics—ABS-CBN.
While Presidential Spokesperson, Harry Roque, and several Malacañang’s close allies have repeatedly asserted the President’s neutrality on ABS-CBN’s case, Duterte, himself, has openly declared on occasions, his intent to block any move that would allow the embattled media giant to return to free television, via a fresh 25-year franchise. Duterte has publicly made tirades against the Lopezes in a number of his live speeches and vowed several times to make sure ABS-CBN won’t be back on the air, while he maintains his seat at the Palace.
On February 8, he again made comments on the Network, but this time, raising the alleged tax liabilities of the Lopezes. The President acknowledged the rumors suggesting some forces are at work at the Lower House to renew the broadcaster’s franchise. And while he claims to respect the power of Congress to award a fresh 25-year franchise to ABS-CBN, his pronouncement to forbid the National Telecommunications Commission from granting the Network permit to operate, proved otherwise.
“I see no problem with Congress restoring ABS-CBN” he declared in a televised speech, adding “But if you say that if they can operate, [if they already have a franchise, no. I will not allow them. I will not allow the NTC to grant them the permit to operate.”
Such declaration reeks irony, as it utterly contradicts his claim that he recognizes Congress’ independence, the law-making body of the government, which is supposed to be equal in power with the Executive department, which Duterte heads.
Some Netizens and government critics noticed the President’s ‘being consistently misinformed’ about ABS-CBN’s case, particularly on the issue of tax deficiencies.
He asserted that the Network must first settle its unpaid taxes before the national telecommunications regulating body can give a green light for ABS-CBN’s return.
Both the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have cleared ABS-CBN’s from all tax-related allegations during the Lower House deliberations on the Network’s failed franchise application last year. Contrary to the claims of Duterte, the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) also confirmed the Network has no unpaid obligations with them.
Actor and producer Bart Guinina echoed many Netizens’ sentiments about the President’s seemingly consistent rejection of the facts that cleared ABS-CBN from the allegations. He called him, vindictive.
Detained Senator Leila de Lima carried the same tone when she asked Duterte what taxes was he referring to–when both SEC and BIR have cleared the Network from the tax-related allegations.
The BIR has already cleared ABS-CBN of its tax liabilities. So, anong sinasabi ni Duterte na kailangan nilang bayaran? Totoong tax o padulas sa trapo? https://t.co/uWDYrGY68t
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) February 9, 2021
Could Duterte’s streak of polemics against ABS-CBN, a glaring suggestion that he is misinformed about the media giant? Or is he self-restraining from receiving facts that are supposed to reach him, the earliest time possible? Quite a scenario, huh, considering these allegations he claims have already been proven false by concerned government agencies themselves.
Duterte’s critics have questioned the government’s focus at a time when practically all governments around the world are trying to deal with the debilitating impacts of the pandemic. They argue that every time the government has some trouble to keep the public eye from looking at, it tries to create diversions like issues about ABS-CBN, and other critics of the government.
Blocking ABS-CBN’s return seems to be a necessary move to keep the public from inquiring about the government’s incompetence and failed efforts to deal with the ongoing economic and health crisis. As suggested by former PTV-reporter Jules Guiang, who argues that Duterte continues to block ABS-CBN because allowing its return would mean more people getting informed and enlightened of the government’s blatant ineptitude during the pandemic.
Duterte’s acknowledgment of the renewed move at Congress to grant ABS-CBN a new franchise also suggests a motion at the Lower House to bring back the Kapamilya network. It counters the current Chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises Franz Alvares’ recent statement that the ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal’s fate now solely relies on the next Congress, which will first convene in 2022.
Duterte’s renewed pronouncement bears a hidden message to Congress, and to every member who currently makes the motion to bring ABS-CBN back, rolling, and alive, could it a be threat? Perhaps, the sudden death of any call to grant the recuperating media giant a new franchise can be considered a definite answer.
