Duterte insists ABS-CBN still has unpaid taxes

LAPU-LAPU CITY — Despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) findings that it has paid its taxes regularly, President Duterte maintained that ABS-CBN still has unsettled taxes with the government worth billions of pesos.

“As long as you will not settle your obligations with the government, you can never resume regular operations,” he said in Cebuano during a campaign sortie in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on March 31.

Duterte claimed that ABS-CBN had been delinquent in the payment of its taxes, from having their equipment imported tax-free to declaring only four hectares of property when it has 40 hectares.

He repeatedly stressed that he was not holding a grudge against ABS-CBN even if the media giant failed to air his campaign advertisements during the 2016 presidential elections.

He said he even chose to keep silent when the House of Representatives held multiple hearings on whether or not it would grant a franchise to ABS-CBN since he did not want to appear “vindictive.”

“Yes, I agree that ABS-CBN has wonderful shows, but the problem is they are not paying their taxes,” Duterte said.

Duterte’s insistence runs counter to the BIR findings that ABS-CBN has no tax default as it has been “regularly” paying taxes for the past years.

Even if Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III had resigned as chairman emeritus and director of ABS-CBN in September 2020, Duterte said it was not enough to allow the firm to resume regular operations.

“They should pay their obligations otherwise there will be an upheaval. I will ask the NPA (New People’s Army) to bomb ABS-CBN,” he said.

Mr. Duterte said he told the military and police to monitor ABS-CBN when he would no longer be the President or be dead.

“When I’m gone and the problem is still there, it’s up to you what to do (with the company),” he said.

ABS-CBN ceased its regular broadcast operations on May 5, 2020 after the Congress did not renew its franchise.

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