Once again, ABS-CBN and the Lopez group were cleared from the allegations thrown against them.
To recall, President Duterte warned that he will not allow ABS-CBN to air unless they will settle their obligations from the government. This was followed by the Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque’s release of matrix indicating the unpaid loans and Lopez companies’ transactions with DBP and Lehman Brothers’ SPV.
During the congressional hearing, DBP Chief legal counsel Soraya Adiong reaffirmed the earlier statement of DBP president Emmanuel Herbosa, confirming that Lopez firms have no write-offs and condonations.
Talent manager and actor Ogie Diaz wondered about the source of the said issue. The baseless accusations of Duterte and his allies are questionable.
Yun naman pala, eh. Bakit me hanash? https://t.co/7uWPaneIH7
— ogie diaz (@ogiediaz) February 17, 2021
During the series of hearings last year for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, they were also cleared by regulating agencies against allegations, however, this did not guarantee them a fresh franchise.
He also called out Congress for spending much attention on petty issues instead of investigating the 15 billion corruption in PhilHealth.
This was after Congress expressed their interest in probing other companies’ debt under DBP after discovering that only less than 20% of non-performing loans of the state-run bank went to Lopez companies.
Indeed, the PhilHealth corruption seemed to be forgotten. There’s also no update about the progress of the investigation yet the government keeps on focusing on the Lopezes. Maybe, they are doing this to deviate the media’s attention and cover up the corruption issue.
