In May of 2020, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque assured lawmakers that President Rodrigo Duterte was ‘completely neutral’ on the fate of ABS-CBN’s franchise bill.
“Ang paninindigan ng Presidente, neutral po sya dyan. Huwag po kayong mag-alala mga congressmen. Hindi po magagalit, hindi matutuwa ang Presidente kung kayo po ay ipasa ang ABS-CBN. Completely neutral po ang Presidente dyan. Vote as your conscience dictates,” Roque said.
With the President revealing his agenda on Monday, February 8, it became evident that he is not ‘neutral’.
ABS-CBN journalist Karen Davila refuted via twitter Roque’s claim regarding the supposed ‘neutrality’ of Duterte. For the female broadcaster, the Secretary’s statement was a mere play of words.
Davila stressed that in addition to the pandemic, the Duterte administration played with people’s lives by shutting down a Network that is keeping its employees fed amid the global health crisis. And with the closure of the broadcasting giant–it did not affect the Lopezes, but more of their employees.
Neutral. Now, just a play of words.
How they played with people’s lives. Thousands of employees of ABSCBN had loans, mortgages to pay. Some passed away after the closure. ABSCBN wasn’t about the Lopezes, it was about people. https://t.co/tY2PQ8mWKm
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) February 10, 2021
The journalist is not wrong since the President has threatened the Network since he became the Commander-in-Chief.
Contrary to Roque’s claim of neutrality, Duterte expressed his threats beginning of 2017.
In March 2017, Duterte has ranted about the Network allegedly writing inaccurate articles about him.
In the following month, Duterte then accused the broadcasting company of ‘swindling’ him. His claim was based on the Network’s failure to show his political advertisements during the 2016 elections. That is when he threatened that he will ‘block’ ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
In May 2017, Duterte once again made a threat, claiming that he will file charges against the media corporate for “multiple syndicated estafa”.
In 2018, Duterte attacked the Network and said that if it is up to him, he will not give ABS-CBN its franchise back.
In December 2019, just months before the expiration of ABS-CBN’s franchise license, Duterte once again made a threat stating that he will make sure that the Network will not get its license renewed.
“Ang iyong franchise mag-end next year. If you expect ma-renew ‘yan, I’m sorry. I will see to it that you’re out,” said Duterte.
In May 2020, Congress did not renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, with a vote 70-11 not in favor of the media company.
Despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) clearing ABS-CBN from any alleged violations, Duterte is still determined to block the Network even without any evidence that the TV station violated any law.
With his state of the nation’s address on Monday, February 8–it is clear as day that despite not having any debt from the government, Duterte still wants ABS-CBN to pay its ‘taxes’ just to withheld them from operating in their frequency.
