Malacañang said it is up to Congress to work on the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN to operate, expressing the belief that the Legislative branch will not let President Duterte’s view on the matter affect them.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement after Duterte threatened anew to block the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise for their failure to air his presidential campaign ads in 2016, even though the network was paid to do so.
“Ang inyong franchise mag-end next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan, I’m sorry. You’re out. I will see to it that you’re out,” he said last week.
Panelo said that it would be Congress that would first have to make the move in order to allow ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcast networks in the country, to operate for another 25 years.
“Unang-una ang magde-decide, initially, ay ang Kongreso. Hindi pa natin alam kung makakapasa sa Kongreso,” he said.
The Palace official assured that Congress has its own wisdom and would not allow themselves to be affected by the President’s words despite Albay Rep. Joey Salceda saying in an interview with ANC that they just agree with what Duterte wants out of fear.
“Ang Kongreso naman hindi naapektuhan sa sinasabi ng Presidente, eh. Hindi mo ba napapansin? May sariling isip ang Kongreso,” Panelo said. (Argyll Geducos)