ABS-CBN Ops Not to Be Allowed Even If New Franchise Is Approved

ABS-CBN’s operations won’t be allowed even if the media conglomerate acquires a fresh franchise from Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte said on Monday.

The president in his televised talk to the people said that he does not have a problem with Congress restoring the franchise of the media organization, though he will not allow the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN the permit to operate.

“Wala akong problema doon kung i-restore ninyo , but if you say that if they can operate, kung may ano na sila, no. I will not allow them. I will not allow the NTC to grant them the permit to operate,” President Duterte said.

The President then said that the prevention of ABS-CBN’s operations is due to their unpaid taxes, which they should settle first.

“Unless and until mabayaran ang taxes, I will ignore your franchise. I will not give them the license to operate” he said.

A new bid for the media organization’s franchise renewal is now in Congress as House Bill No. 8298 was filed on Jan. 5 by Deputy Speaker Vilma Santos-Recto for the new 25-year franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. (GFB)