Philippine Canadian Inquirer (National)
ABS-CBN should have apologized a long time ago: Palace
MANILA — Malacañang on Monday said ABS-CBN should have apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte a long time ago for failing to air the former Davao City mayor’s political ads during the 2016 campaign period.
This was the comment made by Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo after ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologized during a Senate inquiry into issues regarding the network’s franchise which Solicitor General Jose Calida wants to revoke.
“I’m glad finally ABS-CBN has admitted its shortcomings to the President. Dapat noon pa nila ginawa (They should have done that a long time ago),” Panelo said in a Palace press briefing.
Panelo scored ABS-CBN for admitting that they failed to air PHP7 million worth of Duterte’s political ads since they could no longer be accommodated.
“Alam niyo na may atraso kayo. May ginawa ba kayo? Yun nga yung tinatawag na hubris ( You know you made a mistake. But did you do anything about it. That’s what you call hubris),” he said.
He, however, said it would be up to the President to decide whether or not he would accept ABS-CBN’S apology.
“I do not know. Na kay Presidente ‘ yun (It’s the President’s call). It’s personal to him,” he said.
‘Waste of time’
Panelo, also Chief Presidential Legal Counsel, described as “a waste of time” the Senate inquiry into whether or not the franchise of ABS-CBN Corp violated separation of powers among branches of government.
“They wasted two hours debating on something that they should have known “On this issue, we acknowledge our already,” Panelo said. shortcoming in our failure to release the
He, however, said the Senate was not refund in a timely manner,” Katigbak violating any laws in holding the inquiry said. since it is a separate branch of governDuterte has repeatedly expressed disment. pleasure over the ABS-CBN’S failure to
He emphasized that lawmakers should air his political ads as well as its alleged have resolved this debate much earlier. biased reporting.
Meanwhile, he assured anew that the In 2019, he asked the owners to sell the Palace will “not interfere” with the frannetwork since its franchise expires on chise renewal of the media giant. March 30, 2020 unless Congress grants
During the Senate hearing on ABSa fresh 25-year extension.
CBN’S franchise, Katigbak explained Recently, Calida asked the Supreme that the network failed to accommodate Court to revoke ABS-CBN’S franchise his ads since slots for local ads were limdue to its supposed violation of the 1987 ited to just two minutes per hour. Constitution when it allowed foreign
Katigbak said ABS-CBN refunded ownership of the Philippine media enabout PHP4 milliontity.tothepresident, but encountered a delay in returning the He also called on the high court to stop remaining PHP2.6 million. parties from issuing statements on the
He said the President’s camp refused pending quo warranto suit against ABSto accept the delayed refund. CBN’S franchise. ■