Almost a year after the Cayetano-led Congress junked ABS-CBN franchise application, DDS propagandists continue to spread fake news against the Network led by no less than President Rodrigo Duterte.
Recently, Duterte again lashed out against ABS-CBN using a rehashed issue which was repeatedly answered and already cleared by appropriate government agencies involved in the matter.
Duterte recycled the issue on the Lopez DBP loans in defending his stance not to grant the Network its broadcast franchise which has been revived in both houses of Congress.
The President maintained that ABS-CBN and the Lopezes mocked the government with regard to the loan, thus he will never grant them their needed franchise even going to the lengths of calling it a piece of garbage.
With Duterte leading the pack in sharing misinformation about the Kapamilya network, it is not unexpected his DDS followers swiftly followed.
Ever since the highly contentious franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, DDS has been spreading fake news and misinformation against the Network.
One of the topics pounded against ABS-CBN is the One Channel, One Franchise rule floated by FICTAP and was used by congressmen opposed to the renewal.
However, no less than NTC clarified that a Network’s franchise follows One Franchise, One Frequency, or bandwidth rule. With the country’s transition to digital, one frequency can now broadcast multiple programs or channels, thus ABS-CBN did not violate their franchise when they introduce several channels in their digital receiver, TV Plus.
Another issue leveled against ABS-CBN which was started by Rep. Rodante Marcoleta is the 50-year limit of a broadcast franchise.
Marcoleta however was wrong in his interpretation of the law which says that a Network’s franchise can have a maximum period of 50 years which can be renewed and extended after. So Marcoleta’s assertion that ABS-CBN violated their franchise because they are operating for more than 50 years is false.
Aside from the two above, tax issues were also used against the Network.
DDS loyalists keep on insisting that ABS-CBN should pay their taxes as Duterte always says in his public addresses.
BIR however on several occasions has already cleared ABS-CBN of any tax deficiencies.
During the franchise hearing, BIR Assistant Commissioner Manuel Mapoy said ABS-CBN is regularly paying their taxes.
“ABS-CBN Corporation ay (is) regularly paying taxes for the past years. Na-check naman po na ‘yung dapat nilang i-withhold at na-remit naman nila sa gobyerno,” he said
