ABS-CBN ‘grateful, humbled’ by Duterte’s acceptance of apology

ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak attends the Senate inquiry on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal on Monday, Feb 24, 2020. (Photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Media giant ABS-CBN on Thursday said it was “grateful” and “humbled” by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of its apology.

On Wednesday night, Duterte said he accepted the apology of ABS-CBN’s President and CEO Carlo Katigbak, saying that he would leave the network’s bid for franchise renewal to Congress.

“We are grateful and humbled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of our apology,” ABS-CBN said in a statement.

“ABS-CBN remains committed to becoming a better organization and to continue to provide more meaningful service to Filipinos,” the network added.

To recall, Katigbak apologized to Duterte during a Senate hearing for any hard feelings that the network’s airing of the former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s political ad had caused the President.

Katigbak also explained ABS-CBN’s failure to air some of Duterte’s advertisements during the 2016 national elections.

Duterte said the P2.6 million-worth of unaired campaign advertisements during the 2016 national elections that the network was not able to refund him should just be donated to charity.

ABS-CBN said it will coordinate with Duterte’s office “as it relates to his guidance on donating the refund to a charitable institution.”

Several measures seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise remain pending before the House of Representatives.

The network’s current franchise will lapse on May 4 this year.