FACT CHECK | Vice Ganda’s claim that the ABS-CBN franchise has new owners is partly false

May 4, 2022 , 07:00 PM

By Mikee Garcia

(May 4, 2022) – During a variety show last week, comedian and television presenter Jose Marie Borja Viceral, popularly known as Vice Ganda, clarified that the franchise of broadcasting giant ABS-CBN, which was denied a congressional renewal in 2020, is now owned by someone else.

His claim is partly false.

CLAIM:

“Para lang ho sa kaalaman ng nakararami, wala na ho kaming inaasahang prangkisa dahil yung dati naming prangkisa, meron na pong nagmamay-ari non…at pagmamay-arian nila yan ng ilang dekada,” said the television host during a segment in the ABS-CBN noontime program It’s Showtime last April 27.

He was coming to the defense of some of the network’s artists who had been accused by “trolls” online of only joining political campaigns in the hopes that their franchise might be renewed.

“Hindi na namin mahahabol yon o ng ABS at wala na pong inapply na panibagong franchise ang ABS. ABS is no longer after any franchise, okay?”

RATING: PARTLY FALSE

FACTS:

ABS-CBN lost its legislative franchise when a committee in Congress denied its application to renew its 25-year franchise. Its frequencies were also taken away.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in January awarded the frequencies of ABS-CBN to Advanced Media Broadcasting System (AMBS) owned by billionaire Manny Villar.

The AMBS was given provisional authority to operate Channel 16, ABS-CBN’s digital TV frequency, and was also issued a temporary permit to use Channel 2, the network’s paired analog channel, for “simulcast purposes only” and only until the analog’s scheduled shut-off in 2023.

Only Congress can grant franchises through the House Committee on Legislative Franchises. Frequencies, on the other hand, are assigned by the regulatory NTC which is under the Office of the President as per Executive Order No. 47.

Read News5 Digital’s fact check report: Rodante Marcoleta’s claim on the ABS-CBN shutdown lacks context

In 2020, Villar’s daughter Las Piñas City Rep. Camille Villar was one of the lawmakers who voted against the renewal of ABS-CBN. The network was forced to go off-air and let go nearly half of its work force which then employed around 11,000 people.

His son Mark Villar was a former public works and highways secretary under the Duterte Cabinet before resigning to run for senator under the slate of Bongbong Marcos Jr., the only son and namesake of the late dictator, and Sara Duterte, the daughter of the president.

Read News5 Digital’s fact check report: New Cebu bridge was built under Duterte’s ‘Build, Build, Build’ program is false

The AMBS applied for a certificate of public convenience to install, operate, and maintain a digital TV broadcasting system in Metro Manila back in 2006 when it was still owned by the Vera family.

Villar bought AMBS from them in September of last year.

The NTC also awarded Channels 23 and 43, where ABS-CBN previously aired over, to Aliw Broadcasting Corporation and Swara Sug Media Corporation respectively.

The latter is the legal operating name of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) led by Apollo Quiboloy, a pastor and Duterte ally who is on the United States’ FBI ‘most wanted’ list for sex trafficking charges.

WHY THIS MATTERS:

The ABS-CBN Corporation was persistently attacked by President Rodrigo Duterte after it failed to air his political ads during the 2016 elections. The attacks are an attack to press freedom. He also repeatedly threatened to kill ABS-CBN’s franchise in 2017.

In his final State of the Nation Address last year, Duterte even said that he wanted to give the network’s frequencies “to a Filipino na gustong mag-gawa ng tama and will pay.”

The network continues to air on its digital platforms and releases some of its content on other television channels like GMA Network and TV5.

News5 is part of #FactsFirstPH which brings together various sectors that are committed to promoting truth in the public space, and exacting accountability on those who harm it with lies. For those interested to join the initiative, e-mail info@factsfirst.ph. Message News 5’s Facebook page if you want to have any claims fact-checked.

Read our fact-checking policy here.

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