Katigbak: Lopez family rightfully reclaimed ABS-CBN after EDSA Revolution

MANILA, Philippines — The Lopezes’ reclamation of ABS-CBN after the 1986 EDSA Revolution was in accordance with the law, the network’s president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak told a House hearing Monday.

Katigbak said that the return of ABS-CBN to the Lopez family had the “blessing” of three government agencies—the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court.

“Unang-una, ang PCGG mismo ang umaksyon na ibalik sa mga may-ari ang Channel 2 noong June 1986. Sa January 1987, nagkaroon ng agreement ang gobyerno at ABS-CBN na isaayos ang pagbalik ng iba pang facilities ng ABS-CBN na patuloy pang ginagamit ng gobyerno,” Katigbak said.

(The PCGG itself acted on returning Channel 2 to its owners in June 1986. In January 1987, there was an agreement between the government and ABS-CBN to return the facilities of ABS-CBN that were still being used by the government.)

“Itong agreement ay may basbas ng Korte Suprema noong 1989. Base sa agreement na iyon, ibinalik ng PTV 4 ang iba pang facilities ng ABS-CBN sa 1992,” he added.

(This agreement had the blessing of the Supreme Court in 1989. Based on this agreement, PTV 4 returned the facilities of ABS-CBN in 1992.)

ABS-CBN was shut down in 1972 with the declaration of martial law by former president Ferdinand Marcos. The network only resumed operations in 1986, several months after the EDSA People Power Revolution.

“Hindi po binenta ng Lopez family ang ABS-CBN. Basta ginamit nalang ng iba ang mga facilities ng ABS-CBN na walang binayaran,” Katigbak said.

(The Lopez family did not sell ABS-CBN. The facilities of ABS-CBN were just being used without any payment.)

“Kaya hindi po totoo ang paratang na bigla nal ang napasakamay muli sa mga Lopez ang ABS-CBN dahil sila naman ang tunay na may-ari nito,” he added.

(It is not true that ABS-CBN was just owned by the Lopez because they are the owners in the first place.)

Aside from the issue of reclamation following the EDSA Revolution, Katigbak also rebuffed other allegations against the network such the citizenship of ABS-CBN chairman emeritus Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III  and the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs).

ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations were shut down on May 5 after its franchise expired on May 4.