President Duterte accepted the apology but remained mum over the network’s franchise renewal.
PRESIDENT DUTERTE – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte accepted apology from ABS-CBN after its failure to air his paid political ads in 2016.
ABS-CBN Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak, during the first hearing of the network’s franchise renewal, apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte and gave a lighter side as to the reason why they were not able to air his political ads way back in 20016 presidential election.
Accordingly, the are just abiding “the laws and regulations that surround the airing of political ads” and that the network has no political agenda. The president admitted that the ads they were not able to air is worth Php 7-million.
They have accordingly refunded approximately Php 4-million to the President which was accepted, however, the remaining amount costing Php 2.6-million wasn’t accepted due to some delays. And now, days after, the country’s president finally expressed his reaction to it and eventually accepted the apology from the network.
He furthered that they should just donate the remaining balance they owe him. However, despite accepting the public apology, he remained silent over the fate of the franchise renewal of the TV network. He says that it all depends with the Congress and he will never interfere with its deliberations.
House Committee on Legislative Franchises vice chair Rep. Tonypet Albano stated this after Duterte accepted the apology as per CNN’s report, “In the coming days, weeks, and months, we expect to tackle this franchise bill and show the world that we as legislators in the House are fair, honest, and hard working to promulgate a justifiable and amicable decision for ABS-CBN and its employees.”
The existing franchise of the network is set to expire on May 4 which is the same day the congress will return from seven-week break. Thus, from today, Congress only has six session days to tackle the matter before the break but it’s still unclear when they are going to schedule a hearing about it.
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