- President Rodrigo Duterte is willing to settle his issue with ABS-CBN.
- He, however, has one condition to reach an agreement of compromise.
- If they promise to help promote federalism, he wouldn’t revive his threat.
President Rodrigo Duterte only has one condition to settle his issue with ABS-CBN. According to report from Philippine Daily Inquirer, Duterte revealed that he will agree to compromise with the network as long as they promise to help promote federalism.
The report was published on Friday, December 14.
Duterte campaigns the federal system.
President Rodrigo held a PDP-Laban Christmas benefit dinner on Wednesday, December 12. During his speech, he detailed his condition after slamming the owners of the network.
“Kung magtulong kayo diyan sa federal system campaign at gawain ninyong slogan also for the unity and to preserve this republic, makipag-areglo ako… But kayo, may mali man rin kayo, may utang rin kayo sa gobyerno, do your part and maybe we can talk about it…
“I will go to you and say… Wala akong hingiin. Just dedicate a portion of your time, your expensive and precious time on TV, help us promote federalism, only the good ones. But if you think that it is not into your system, fine. Pero kung suportahan lang ninyo ang… Kayong mga network, wala kayo. Wala akong hingiin, ‘yan lang. And I said, I’m willing to shake hands with you.”
Duterte threatens franchise renewal.
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire in 2020. ABS-CBN seemed to be preparing for 2020, pointing out that the company has business aside from television. The President hosted a dinner with Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas on Tuesday, August 14. During his speech, he expressed that he is ready to move on and let the issue pass.
“That was really hurting. Kaya minsan I blurt it out but I have learned to live with it actually. Kung minsan mag-init lang ang ulo ko… But let’s just understand each other, and let it pass. I said it because let no man with no sin cast the first stone.”
In November, President Rodrigo revived the threat and slammed ABS-CBN anew during a speech in Malay, Aklan. He addressed chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III for allegedly swindling him.
“Yung franchise ninyo, matatapos. But let me ask you questions first. Kasi ako talagamag-object na marenew kayo. Alam mo bakit? Magnanakaw kayo. Estapador. Ginawa ninyo sa amin, marami kami.”
During the May 2016 Presidential Elections, ABS-CBN did not air the political advertisement which the President already paid for. The network, however, aired the degrading and controversial political advertisement against him paid by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.
