President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday, February 8 that he will not allow National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise.
This recent declaration from Duterte received mixed reactions, but most were ‘certain’ that the President has something to do with the Network’s shutdown last year.
Former PTV4 host Jules Guiang wrote on twitter that the administration continues to bar the widest-reach broadcasting company from airing because they are afraid to be exposed. The TV host said that ABS-CBN’s obsession in disseminating the truth makes Duterte threatened–he fears that his secret dealings might figure an exposé.
The regime continues to block ABS-CBN’s franchise because with its wide reach, infrastructure, and brave reportage, the network has the capacity to inform more people about the failures of the mad man and his men.
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) February 8, 2021
Although Duterte promises that he will still block the TV station unless they pay their taxes, Guiang in another tweet repeated Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR)’s statement. According to the BIR, ABS-CBN paid its taxes, clearing it from any tax allegations. Also, DDS claimed that the Kapamilya network is biased, the TV host used the news from GMA to rebuke all assertions.
Read: https://t.co/OlqZRZJvW8
Galing na sa BIR yan, news from GMA. Baka sabihin niyo biased din GMA haha https://t.co/pUBEc8uVT8
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) February 9, 2021
Even if BIR’s declaration that ABS-CBN paid their taxes, Duterte, during his nation’s address last Monday, February 8, vowed to stand in the way. The President stated that unless the media corporate pay their taxes, he will continue to withhold them from getting their license to operate. Contrary to what Duterte said, BIR and even Security and Exchange Commissions (SEC) cleared the Network from any infractions. BIR even disclosed that ABS-CBN paid P14.398 billion in taxes from 2016 to 2019. Nevertheless, the President wants them to pay what they do not owe.
Meanwhile, Congress has plans of reviving the Network. Senate President Tito Sotto even filed a bill to ensure that ABS-CBN’s franchise will get the attention needed. Sotto even claimed that there is a ‘great’ chance that under Lord Allan Velasco’s leadership, the closed Network will have a fresh 25-year franchise license.
However, after Duterte’s statement during his nation’s address, Velasco released a statement stating that the present House of Representatives will leave ABS-CBN’s fate to the next Congress.
Jules Guiang is a former PTV4 host, a government network. Guiang worked in the station for eight years. However, he got fired after he directly tweeted at Congressmen during the hearing of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. Now, the former host finds the social media platform as an instrument for him to be vocal and critical about the government.
