Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo claimed that President Rodrigo Duterte’s verbal threats against ABS-CBN are definitely unrelated to Solicitor General Calida’s quo warranto petition due to ‘highly abusive practices.’
Panelo reiterated that SolGen Jose Calida’s job is to file a petition whenever an institution or establishment commits a violation and that President Duterte does not meddle with Calida’s job.
Panelo stated: “Alam mo, trabaho ng Solicitor General na maghain ng anumang petisyon pagka mayroong paglabag sa batas. Ang Pangulo hindi nakikialam sa trabaho ng mga heads of departments and offices. Palagi niyang sinasabi let the law take its course.”
Furthermore, Panelo described Duterte’s threat to ABS-CBN as part of the freedom of expression of someone who experienced displeasure.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrTqxEoQiMk
“Walang kinalaman, alam mo mga salita ni PDuterte, ‘yun ay kaugnay sa kanyang displeasure bilang nagbayad ng pera para sa air ng campaign materials na hindi naman nailabas. That’s part of freedom of expression, when you expressed your displeasure on something of which you are the subject of a fraud. We cannot deprive the President to express himself, pero walang kaugnayan itong petition ni SolGen.”
Calida accused ABS-CBN of accepting foreign investors to take part in the ownership of a Philippine mass media entity.
In line with this, ABS-CBN has released an official statement indicating that the capital raised from PDRs has helped them to provide better services to the Filipinos through its KBO Channel and not with alleged foreign investors.
