Pacquiao hopes Duterte asks NTC to let ABS-CBN operate

MANILA, Philippines— While President Rodrigo Duterte should not be faulted for the closure of ABS-CBN, Senator Manny Pacquiao said he is hoping the Chief Executive would talk to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to reverse its order against the network.

The NTC ordered the giant media outlet to stop broadcasting after its franchise expired on May 4. ABS-CBN went off the air Tuesday night in compliance with the directive.

But Pacquiao believes Duterte could still do something to reverse the NTC’s order.

“Dito sa pag operate ng ABS, may magagawa naman ang Pangulo pero dito sa pagsasara, hindi naman natin siguro pwedeng sisihin ang ating Pangulo sa naging decision ng NTC,” he said in an interview over ABS-CBN’s News Channel on Thursday.

(The President can do something about about ABS but I think we can’t put the blame of the NTC’s decision on our President.)

“Pero I’m hoping, I’m praying na hipuin ng Panginoon ang Pangulo na tulungan at kausapin ang NTC na bigyan ng provisional authority to operate while the pending renewal bill ay dinidinig ng lower house at sa Senate,” he added.

(But I’m hoping, I’m praying that the Lord would touch our President to help and talk to the NTC to grant [ABS-CBN] a provisional authority to operate while the pending renewal bill is being tackled in the lower house and the Senate.)

This is the only way, he said, that ABS-CBN could be allowed to continue to operate while Congress tackles the network’s franchise application.

Besides, in the past, other franchisees were also granted a provisional authority to operate while their applications were pending in Congress, Pacquiao pointed out.

That is why, he said, he was surprised when the NTC did not grant ABS-CBN a provisional permit to operate despite the authority given by the Senate and the House of Representatives.

The senator though expressed hope that the House would still act on ABS-CBN’s franchise application, saying the shutdown was a “big loss” especially for overseas Filipino workers who are relying on The Filipino Channel.

Despite this, Pacquiao believes that the ABS-CBN’s shutdown should not be likened to the 1972 martial law.

“Hindi naman tayo martial law, iba na ‘yung generation natin ngayon. Kailangan lang talaga natin ng pagkakaunawaan, pagkakaisa,” he said.

(This is not martial law, our generation now is different. We just really need understanding and unity)