By ARGYLL GEDUCOS
Malacañang yesterday assured lawmakers that President Duterte is neutral on the pending bill seeking the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN which went off-air Tuesday night.
In an interview over State-run PTV-4, presidential spokesman Harry Roque reminded the Congress that it is their job to work on the network’s application.
“Neutral po siya diyan. Huwag po kayong mag-alala mga congressmen, hindi po magagalit, hindi matutuwa ang Presidente kung kayo po ay ipasa ang ABS-CBN,” he said.
“Vote as your conscience dictates. Hinding-hindi po manghihimasok ang Presidente sa inyong desisyon,” he added.
Roque said Duterte, though Congress, should have approved ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal instead of asking the National Telecommunications Commission to grant the network provisional authority to operate.
“Itong issue po talaga ng ABS-CBN franchise, isang issue po ‘yan na unang-una, nasa primary and exclusive jurisdiction ng Kongreso. Ibig pong sabihin, wala pong kahit sino ang makapagbibigay ng franchise sa ABS-CBN kung hindi Kongreso lamang,” he said.
“Ang paninindigan ng Presidente, kung nakuha naman po ng Kongreso na magpasa ng resolution na humihingi sa NTC na magpasa ng provisional authority, bakit hindi na lang magpasa ng batas na nagbibigay ng franchise sa ABS-CBN,” he added.
The Palace official said that as much as Duterte wanted to give ABS-CBN a franchise, only the Congress has the power to do so. He added that Duterte cannot certify the bill as urgent either.
“Hindi naman po ma-eendorso ng Presidente ‘yan as urgent dahil meron nga pong private interest diyan. At talagang hindi po ginagawang certified as urgent ang mga franchise bills,” Roque said.
“So intindihin niyo po, kahit gusto po na makapagbigay ng prangkisa ang Presidente mismo, wala po siyang ganyang kapangyarihan,” he added.
Meanwhile, Roque said he was instructed by Duterte to thank ABS-CBN for its role during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in informing the public and assisting those in need.
“I was even under the instruction to enumerate the many things that ABS-CBN has done in connection with COVID-19. I just never got it from your station, I was requesting for it. Otherwise, I would have thanked you for it,” he said.
“He said, ‘Anyone who has helped the people in this time of crisis, I will be grateful to,'” he added.
“Thank you to ABS-CBN for all the help that you extended not only in disseminating information but for the relief assistance that you extended to our people,” he continued.
He reiterated that Duterte would have done something if he could but explained that the ball is now with the Congress.
“If the President could do more, he certainly would. But right now, he’s calling on his allies,” Roque said.
“He’s really neutral on the issue. Act on it, vote according to your conscience, you have the time to do it,” he added.
