ABS-CBN naniniwalang irerespeto ng Duterte government ang demokrasya

SINAGOT ng ABS-CBN ang report tungkol sa balitang posibleng hindi na diumano ito makakakuha ng “25-year legislative franchise to operate” sa pagpasok ng 17th Congress dahil hawak na nga ito ng “super majority” ni President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

Base sa inilabas na ulat ng Inquirer.net kahapon, hindi raw naaprubahan ang application ng Kapamilya station noong September, 2014 during the 16th Congress at ngayong magsisimula na ang 17th Congress sa pag-upo ni Digong sa Palasyo, mas maraming kaalyado ang pangulo sa Kongreso na posibleng humarang sa application ng TV network.

May konek pa rin daw ito sa paglabas ng isang anti-Duterte ad noong panahon ng kampanya kung saan ipinakita ang mga sablay ni Digong lalo na ang kanyang mga pagmumura on national television.

Nabatid na mag-e-expire ang 25 taon prangkisa ng ABS-CBN sa March 30, 2020, at kaya raw nag-apply agad ng legislative franchise noong 2014 ang Dos ay para hindi mahirapang kumuha sa ilalim ng papasok na “unfriendly administration.”

Balitang hindi rin nakakuha ng suporta ang application ng network sa mga kaalyado ni outgoing President Noynoy Aquino sa Mababang Kapulungan. Narito naman ang official statement ng ABS-CBN sa nasabing issue.

“ABS-CBN Corporation’s franchise to operate and maintain television and radio broadcasting stations will expire in 2020. “ABS-CBN opted for an early renewal application in September 2014 and went through the normal legislative process. But due to time constraints, ABS-CBN later decided to withdraw the application with the intent of seeking renewal in the 17th Congress. “Claims that the franchise will not be extended are purely speculative.

“For the franchise renewal, we believe that our government will uphold the ideals of democracy including the rights to freedom of speech and expression. “ABS-CBN is committed to be in public service by providing news and information that matter to the Filipino, as we have been doing for the past decades.”