MANILA – Citing ABS-CBN’s unpaid taxes, President Rodrigo Duterte has no plans to allow the giant broadcast network to resume operation even if it would get a new franchise from the House of Representatives.
“Congress is planning to restore the franchise. Wala akong problem kung i-restore ninyo but I will not allow them to operate. I will not allow the National Telecommunications Commission to grant them the permit to operate,” Duterte said on Monday.
“Unless and until, mabayaran ng mga Lopez ang taxes nila, I will ignore your franchise and I will not give them the license to operate. Kalokohan ‘yan. It’s like you gave them a prize for committing a crime,” the president added.
Duterte stressed that Lopez family should settle first their unpaid taxes. This is despite the statement of the Bureau of Internal Revenue and the Development Bank of the Philippines that ABS-CBN has no unpaid tax dues and condoned loans, respectively.
The president wants the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct investigation for possible graft charges against the network, Malacañang said on Tuesday.
“Ombudsman na po ang bahala sa cause of action for violation of our Anti-Graft law,” said presidential spokesperson Harry Roque adding that it is up to Ombudsman to prove if the Lopez-owned network is liable for their alleged unpaid taxes and condoned loans.
ABS-CBN’s free TV and radio channels went off air on May last year after its franchise expired. The network’s bid to have a new franchise was denied by lawmakers due to various issues including alleged tax-avoidance schemes, the dual citizenship of its chairman emeritus Eugenio Lopez III, failure to regularize its employees, and biased reporting.
Senate President Vicente Sotto III filed a Senate Bill seeking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise last month, while Batangas Sixth District Rep. Vilma Santos-Recto filed a similar measure in the House of Representatives./PN
