Sara Duterte now says ABS-CBN franchise revival up to Congress

FILE PHOTO: Sara Duterte-Carpio. Photo from the Davao City Information Office

MANILA, Philippines — Sara Duterte-Carpio will let Congress decide on the restoration of ABS-CBN’s franchise if she gets elected vice president, saying such power rests on legislators.

The vice-presidential bet said this Tuesday after being asked by reporters if she would support any move to revive the franchise of ABS-CBN if she becomes vice president.

Not too long ago, however, Duterte-Carpio expressed support to the franchise renewal bid of the broadcast giant.

“As vice president, wala po ang power diyan of [I do not have the power of] granting franchises. So nasa Congress po ‘yan, nasa House of Representatives and the Senate,” she told reporters in Pasay City

“So nasa Congress po ‘yan. Kung ano po ‘yung decision ng Congress, ‘yun po ang masusunod (It is up to Congress. Whatever is the decision of Congress, that is what should be followed),” she added.

But in February 2020, Duterte-Carpio expressed support to the franchise renewal bid of ABS-CBN. At that time, ABS-CBN’s franchise was only about to expire as its application was still pending before the House committee on legislative franchises.

“Davao City fully supports ABS-CBN sa kanilang pagpapa-renew ng kanilang franchise [in its franchise renewal]. Hopefully, it will be resolved in a very positive way,” Duterte-Carpio said two years ago.

READ: Inday Sara supports ABS-CBN, says Duterte concerned about workers’ jobs

In May 2020, ABS-CBN’s franchise expired and the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) directed the network to stop operating its television and radio broadcasting stations.

READ: NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop broadcast operations

When ABS-CBN’s franchise expired, its franchise application was still pending before the House committee on legislative franchises, which was only able to decide in July 2020.

The verdict? ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application was denied by the House panel.

READ: House panel closes down ABS-CBN

Months before the network’s shutdown, Duterte-Carpio’s father, President Rodrigo Duterte, threatened ABS-CBN saying: “If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan (franchise), I am sorry. I will see to it that you are out.”

READ: Duterte to ABS-CBN: ‘I will see to it that you are out’

Despite such pronouncements from President Duterte, the Palace had insisted that the chief executive was “neutral” during congressional hearings on the network’s franchise renewal application. The Palace also said the decision on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application is solely in the hands of Congress.

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