On Monday, February 8, President Rodrigo Duterte expressed his desire to prevent ABS-CBN from getting its franchise back.
Despite having the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) stated that the Network did not violate any regulations nor evade their taxes, the President still wants them to pay before NTC would allow them to operate on free television once again.
Though some employees of the TV station got irritated, others have been so ‘chill’ with the news that the government is not open to giving its license back.
Rather than use their voice on social media to rant about Duterte blocking the approval of the Network’s franchise, some employees of ABS-CBN would rather have the President prioritize other things.
On Twitter, they expressed their opinion on the latest nation’s address of the President.
ABS-CBN journalist Mike Navallo on twitter–he said that the President could rant all he wants while the Network will mind its own, and serve the Filipino people.
https://twitter.com/mikenavallo/status/1358973272105181185
Walang pag usad. Walang pag unlad. Prangkisa pa din ang topic because???
— Ganiel Krishnan (@KrishnanGaniel) February 8, 2021
Kapamilya journalist Jojo Pasion Malig clarified on his twitter that the Congress is the one granting franchise and not NTC. Malig was confused as to how NTC would bypass the Congress who has a higher authority than them.
NTC doesn't grant a franchise. Congress does. So the NTC has the authority to override Congress? Puzzling.
— Jojo Pasion Malig (@JojoMalig) February 8, 2021
Gretchen Ho even retweeted the statement of BIR Unit Head Simplicio Cabantac Jr. that ABS-CBN has been filing their taxes regularly. Meanwhile, Duterte wants the Lopezes to pay their alleged taxes. He wrote that the comparison of Cabantac and Duterte is an official fact-check of the allegations being thrown to the network.
Official Fact-Check
https://t.co/bRLj3K4u1p
— Gretchen (@gretchenho) February 9, 2021
Even Gerome Esguerra would like the President to give his attention to the pandemic. He should prioritize the growing debt of the country rather than the tax violation of the Network. BIR and SEC vouched for not having any infractions–would be the least of his priority.
One year na tayong napandemya nandyan ka pa rin. Try mo ayusin ang Pilipinas. Mano man lang sa dami ng nautang eh mapabakuna. Kakasawa ka.
— gerrome esguerra (@gerromeesguerra) February 9, 2021
Even seasoned journalist Jacque Manabat stressed that the commodities’ price are still very expensive and the pandemic is still getting worse yet the president is still targeting ABS-CBN.
Ang mahal ng mga bilihin.
‘Di pa rin tapos ang Covid-19.Bakit kami pa rin?
— Jacque Manabat (@jacquemanabat) February 8, 2021
With that, ABS-CBN continues to let the truth come out from the words of their enemies. During their shut down, the Network still chooses to serve the Filipino people. And in the recent tirade of Duterte proves that he is the one behind the fall of the largest media company in the Philippines.
