There might still be “hope” for ABS-CBN Corporation under the leadership of Carlo Katigbak after he owned up to the network’s mistakes, a Palace official said Friday.
As the television network struggles to renew its franchise to operate, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo has lauded Katigbak, ABS-CBN president and chief executive officer, for admitting the company’s faults and promising to right such wrongs.
Impressed with his humble stance, Panelo said Katigbak appeared to be a better company executive compared to the elderly owners of the television network who he claimed have “hubris.”
“Mabuti nga nakita ko si Carlo Katigbak kanina, meron siyang statement. Parang sabi niya nagkakamali din kami, buti pa itong batang ito, marunong umamin ng pagkakamali and we will right the wrongs, not your uncle or not your father or not those who are running or who were running ABS-CBN,” Panelo said over ANC television’s “Headstart” hosted by Karen Davila.
“Mabuti pa ang mga bata, may pag-asa pa ang ABS-CBN because of them,” he added.
Katigbak recently broke silence on the franchise renewal controversy besetting ABS-CBN, saying the network is not perfect and will rectify any wrong. Appearing on a video message Thursday night, he also said there was no reason for the company to shut down the network’s operations but assured that they will allow the legal processes concerning its franchise.
Katigbak, a Harvard-trained executive, was appointed the network’s president back in 2016. He is a cousin of Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, currently ABS-CBN chairman emeritus.
The legislative franchise of the network is set to expire next month.
At present, the company faces a quo warranto petition filed by the Office of the Solicitor General before the Supreme Court. The government has accused the network of violating certain laws, including the constitutional ban on foreign ownership of local media.
Several bills seeking to renew the ABS-CBN franchise have also been pending in the House of Representatives following the President’s angry outburst against the network.
Duterte previously threatened to block the franchise renewal of the network after it did not air his paid political advertisement during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Panelo, in his remarks Friday, said he pities ABS-CBN’s young executives who must now suffer for the actions made by their predecessors.
“Nakakaawa nga, dahil ang gagaling ng mga bata, matitino, now they are suffering because of what their father’s did o iyong mga uncle nila,” he said.
“Alam na nila na mali iyong ginawa nila and yet did they do anything to appease the person na naging biktima ng kanilang (a victim of their) injustice and fraud? Wala Iyon ang tinatawag ni Presidente,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling)