UNCERTAIN FRANCHISE ABS-CBN, the radio-TV network giant controlled by the Lopez family, has a formidable obstacle to overcome in renewing its franchise at the end of March 2020 after President Duterte said he would block it and told company owners to just sell it. Malaca帽ang on Thursday, January 16, 2020, said Duterte has nothing to do with the alleged move of the Office of the Solicitor General to ask the Supreme Court to revoke the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN. Philippine Daily Inquirer/RICHARD A. REYES
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� President Rodrigo Duterte has nothing to do with the alleged move of the Office of the Solicitor General to ask the Supreme Court to revoke the franchise of media giant ABS-CBN, said Malaca帽ang said.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo issued the assurance even as Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, which expires in March.
鈥淵ou must remember that the job of the SolGen is to file the appropriate petitions when he sees or feels that there is a transgression of franchises or any law for that matter,鈥� Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.
A media report earlier claimed that 聽Solicitor General Jose Calida is set to file a petition before the high court to revoke the congressional franchise of ABS-CBN due to supposed 鈥渧iolations鈥� committed by the broadcast network.
The report claimed that Calida has already finished the draft of the petition expected to be filed Thursday. But the petition has yet to be filed before the high court as of posting time
In an interview, Panelo, who is also Duterte鈥檚 chief legal counsel, argued the SolGen鈥檚 move could not be considered an issue of press freedom.
鈥淏asta may violation ng batas hindi pwedeng pumasok ang press freedom. Ang press freedom may limitations din 鈥榶un,鈥� he said.
(Whenever there are laws violated, you cannot invoke press freedom. Press freedom itself has its limitations.)
The President previously asked the Lopez family, controlling owner of the publicly listed company, to just sell off the media network as he vowed to 鈥渟ee to it鈥� that it will lose its battle for franchise renewal.
Television and radio broadcasters in the country are required to get a franchise from Congress under Republic Act No. 3846.
鈥淚f I were you, just sell it. Because it鈥檚 only now that the Filipino can retaliate against your abuses. And I will make sure that you will remember this episode of our times forever,鈥� Duteret said.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra also said filing a 鈥渜uo warranto鈥� petition before the Supreme Court to revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN was 鈥渘ever鈥� discussed in Cabinet meetings.
鈥淭he renewal or nonrenewal of the ABS-CBN franchise was casually mentioned in a Cabinet meeting several months ago, but the filing of a quo warranto petition has never been discussed at all,鈥� Guevarra told reporters on Thursday.
The President unleashed the attack on the TV network as his friend, Davao City businessman Dennis Uy, is expanding into the media and entertainment business with the founding of Udenna Communications Media and Entertainment Holdings Corp. With DONA Z. PAZZIBUGAN