‘ABS-CBN franchise will be OK if it hurdles Congress’

MANILA, Philippines — Will President Duterte veto the bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise once it reaches his desk?

Duterte previously vowed to block the renewal of the franchise of the Lopez-led network, which he accused of coming up with “garbage” reports about him.

The President has also accused ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez of being a swindler for allegedly not returning his money even if his campaign advertisements did not air. He has also threatened to file criminal charges against the Lopezes for supposedly failing to pay billions it owed the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines.

But Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar claimed the bill renewing the television network’s franchise would be “OK” once it hurdles Congress.

“Sa palagay ko naman, kapag pumasa na sa Kongreso, OK na (I think, once it is passed by Congress, it will be OK),” Andanar told radio station dzBB yesterday.

“It’s up to Congress. The ball is with them,” he added.

Andanar said Duterte does not meddle with the affairs of the legislature, a co-equal branch of government. He noted that Duterte had allowed the bill renewing the franchise of TV5 to lapse into law.

“He did not interfere because this is really the turf of Congress,” the presidential communications chief said.

ABS-CBN’s franchise, which languished at the committee level at the House of Representatives, will expire next year. The bill will have to be refiled in the 18th Congress.