President Rodrigo Duterte stressed on Monday night that he will not allow the resumption of operations of media giant ABS-CBN until it settles its alleged debt to the government.
While the chief executive does not have any problem with the move of Congress to revive the franchise of the company, he “will not allow” the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant the permit to operate.
“Kung ibigay ninyo ang (If you grant a) franchise because it is within your power to do it, go ahead… Unless and until mabayaran ng mga Lopez ang taxes nila, (Unless and until the Lopezes pay their taxes), I will not, I will ignore your franchise, and I will not give them the license to operate,” he stated.
Pres. Duterte added that the granting of franchise to the Lopezes is similar to giving a “prize for their being — for committing criminal acts.”
“Ang magawa ko lang nito is I think I’ll pass it on to the Ombudsman. Para sa akin ang Ombudsman ang pinaka- independent body na mag-solve nito (The only thing I can do is, I think, I’ll pass it on to the Ombudsman. For me, the Ombudsman is the most independent body to solve this),” he concluded.
Last May 2020, ABS-CBN ceased its broadcast operations following the expiration of its legislative franchise. – Report from Mela Lesmoras
