‘TINIRA KO TALAGA’ | Duterte admits using power to attack ABS-CBN, rehashes false claims

June 28, 2022 , 02:38 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(June 28, 2022) – President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday admitted to using his power as chief executive to target ABS-CBN, leading to the giant network’s shutdown at the height of the COVID-19 crisis.

Duterte, who will finish his term on Thursday, revealed in a speech that he told lawmakers about his sentiments on ABS-CBN, rehashing already debunked claims on its alleged non-payment of taxes.

“Kaya tinira ko talaga sila (ABS-CBN),” said Duterte in the oath-taking of local officials in Davao City. “Talagang I used the presidential powers to tell Congress that you are dealing with scoundrels and if you continue to kowtow with them, kawawa ang Pilipino.”

Former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque claimed that Duterte was “neutral” regarding ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal which was eventually denied by the House of Representatives. Roque claimed that the iron-fisted leader did not want to dictate Congress, which was largely made up of Duterte’s allies.

Duterte repeatedly castigated ABS-CBN publicly. In April 2017, he accused it of swindling after not running some political advertisements he already paid for. The media network later apologized and explained it was due to airtime constraints.

In December 2019, he flatly said he would ensure that ABS-CBN would be done when its franchise expires the following year.

“ABS-CBN, ang inyong franchise, mag-end next year. If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan, I’m sorry. You’re out. I will see to it that you’re out,” said Duterte.

In February 2021, he said he won’t let ABS-CBN operate again even if Congress renews its franchise.

“I have no problem if you (Congress) restore it,” said Duterte in his late-night public address. “But if you say that they can operate if they already have it (franchise), no, I will not allow them.”

Despite Duterte’s grudge, the Malacañang and his supporters pushed the narrative that the ABS-CBN shutdown was not personal or political but a move to hold the media network accountable for alleged malpractices.

But the Bureau of Internal Revenue said ABS-CBN regularly paid taxes, which amounted to roughly P15.3 billion from 2016 to 2019 alone. It also confirmed that the media network had no delinquencies. Ricardo Tan, ABS-CBN’s chief financial officer, said the company and its subsidiaries paid P71.5 billion in taxes from 2003 to 2019. Even the Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed that the media giant didn’t violate regulations.

Still, Duterte once again insisted that ABS-CBN was unable to pay taxes.

“You were all the years enjoying patronage because you were close to the powers-that-be,” said Duterte after cursing ABS-CBN anew.

ABS-CBN was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission to shut down in May 2020. Thousands of employees lost their jobs while media experts lamented the “chilling effect” on press freedom. It also led to the lack of information dissemination during calamities, as ABS-CBN was forced to close its regional networks.

ABS-CBN’s frequencies were handed to the Advanced Media Broadcasting System of billionaire Manny Villar, a known Duterte supporter, last January.

(PM)

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