ABS-CBN franchise ‘not for urgent renewal,’ clarifies lawmaker Palawan 1st District Representative Franz Alvarez, chair of the House committee on legislative franchises, says the panel is prioritizing franchises that are about to expire

The chairperson of the House committee on legislative franchises said "there is rush" to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise because it is valid until 2020.

Palawan 1st District Representative Franz Alvarez made the statement in response to questions about President Rodrigo Duterte's declared bid the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN for allegedly airing his prepaid campaign advertisements in 2016, among other issues.

"ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise is up for urgent renewal. It is still valid until March 30, 2020, so there is rush in extending it. The committee is prioritizing franchises which are about expire. So based on the committee workload, it is on the front burner yet," said Alvarez in a text message to Rappler, when asked about the President's announcement.

ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III had earlier told the network's stockholders that they had plenty of time to work on the franchise renewal as it was due to expire on December 31, 2020.

Alvarez also said that in politics, a lot can happen in a short span of time.

“And speaking of time, a month is an eternity in politics. Alliances can form and collapse. Misunderstandings are patched up during that period of time,” he added.

The President bared his planned action against ABS-CBN nearly a month after he warned the network giant and the Philippine Daily Inquirer that "karma" would catch up with them for their supposed "unfair" reports on him and his presidency.

Duterte signed the law renewing the franchise of ABS-CBN rival GMA Network on April 21. GMA's franchise expired on March 20, 2017.

House Bill Number 4349, which is still pending at the committee level, is seeking to renew the franchise granted to ABS-CBN Corporation for 25 years. The current franchise will expire on March 30, 2020.

Should Duterte pursue his threat to block the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise, Alvarez said the President should "formally" convey it to Congress.

But the legislative franchises committee chairperson said his panel will do its job with or without the formal transmittal.

“It would be better if it is conveyed formally to Congress. Whether there is official transmittal or not, the committee will do its job, deliberate, and study the merits of the bill, and make the necessary necessary recommendation to the plenary,” said Alvarez.

But he said the passage of a bill into a law ultimately rests on the President, who has the power to approve it.

“The reality, however, is even if the bill hurdles both houses of Congress, the buck stops with him. He can sign or veto it, and the latter is hard to override,” said Alvarez.

A two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress is needed to override a presidential veto.
http://www.rappler.com/nation/168203-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal-not-urgent

Duterte says will block ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Vows to fight Inquirer owners over Makati property and hits NYT
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which expires in 2020, after accusing the company of accepting money for a campaign ad that failed to air before the May 9, 2016 polls, and then failing to return the money.
Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview, Duterte alleged that other politicians may be in the same boat, and that this was ground for not allowing the company to operate.
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Duterte said ABS-CBN's franchise has been there for 25 years. Its renewal is pending in Congress.
"So, I will file a complaint. Congress, to renew it. But to operate is something else, so I will point this out, yung basura ninyo. Then we’ll see."
Duterte also attacked the Philippine Daily Inquirer for issuing stinging editorials against him, and said he will fight the Inquirer's owners over the Mile Long property in Makati.
A dispute between the government and the owners of the prime property is pending in court.
"I will recover the property for the Filipino. Everybody who has a tax obligation must talk now. Within 6 months time, I will go after them," he said.
Duterte said he is intent on taking on the country's oligarchs, which he had been railing against since the 2016 presidential campaign.
He also criticized the New York Times for its scathing piece that called for his condemnation, saying the publication must stop.

http://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/27/17/duterte-says-will-block-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal

MEDIA CRITICISMS: President threatens to block franchise of ABS-CBN Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/892575/president-threatens-to-block-franchise-of-abs-cbn#ixzz4fTUxsHBR Follow us: @inquirerdotnet on Twitter | inquirerdotnet on Facebook

President Duterte on Thursday stepped up his attack on the press, threatening to block the renewal of ABS-CBN radio and television franchise when it expires in March 30, 2020.
Mr. Duterte again accused the giant network of estafa for supposedly not providing him the airtime he had paid for.
ABS-CBN is a listed company and operates TV channels, radio stations and a website.
Renewal
Mr. Duterte brought up the fact that the franchise was up for renewal after he was asked if he would take legal action against the network for supposed estafa.
He said its franchise was fine as long as it adhered to journalistic standards. But he said he would block the franchise renewal when asked by reporters.
“Yes. If you’re like that, you are engaged in swindling. For all you know, how many companies paid you and you did not air it?” he said.
Tirades
If ABS-CBN would just swindle people, he would have to stop it, he added.
ABS-CBN did not immediately return the Inquirer’s calls for comment. But ABS-CBN chair and owner Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez earlier III said the President’s tirades against the network were “part and parcel of our work being a media institution.”
Lopez had also noted that the network had yet to encounter an administration that did not have a problem with the media, including ABS-CBN.
‘Slanted’ stories?
Mr. Duterte earlier accused ABS-CBN and Inquirer of putting out slanted stories against him and castigated them for reporting on allegations made by Sen. Antonio Trillanes that he had P200 million in bank accounts.
He did not spare the Inquirer in his rants on Thursday, and said he would go after the Prieto family over the leased Mile Long property in Makati. The Prietos are the majority owners of the Inquirer.
The Mile Long property referred to by the President is the subject of a lease agreement entered into by the company with the government in 1980. Since the deal is subject to a court case, Mile Long has refrained from discussing its merits further.
Mr. Duterte’s tirades were not limited to local media.
NYT editorial

On Thursday, he also called The New York Times an “asshole” for coming up with an editorial critical of him and the killings that have taken place under his presidency.
He said the newspaper must stop publishing, pointing out that it could not criticize America’s mistakes.
“You cannot even criticize your own mistake. Invading a country, making up excuses before the world that is not true, then you have the gall to say stop. You better stop your publishing,” he said.


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Duterte nixes ABS-CBN franchise renewal

PRESIDENT Rodrigo R. Duterte on Thursday said he will block the renewal of the franchise of media and entertainment giant ABS-CBN Corp. for allegedly swindling him.
In a media briefing at Malacañang on Thursday, Mr. Duterte accused the network of failing to air his political advertisements during the election campaign last year, even though these were already paid for.

“Akala mo itong ABS ang franchise will be due pero kailangan ng extension because it has been there for about 25 years. Sabi ng batas OK na only if you adhere to journalistic. Pero ang ginagawa ninyo sa amin -- estafa, swindling, not only me but Chiz Escudero,” he said, referring to vice-presidential candidate and Senator Francis G. Escudero.

“So I will file a complaint. Congress, no need to renew it,” Mr. Duterte said. “If you operate, ABS-CBN, tapos manloloko lang kayo ng tao, mag-swindling kayo, I have to stop you.”

ABS-CBN’s franchise expires on March 30, 2020. House Bill no. 4349, which proposes to extend the media giant’s franchise by another 25 years, was filed last Nov. 10, 2016 and is currently pending before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.

Mr. Duterte’s statement comes after he signed on April 21 the law renewing rival GMA Network Inc.’s franchise for another 25 years.

ABS-CBN Integrated Corporate Communications head Kane Errol Choa declined to comment on Mr. Duterte’s recent attack against the network, saying a statement will be issued.

This is not the first time that Mr. Duterte lashed out at ABS-CBN for being critical of his 10-month-old administration.

On March 30, Mr. Duterte launched an expletive-laden tirade against ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer for their alleged “biased” reporting. He said the two media organizations were “unfair” in their coverage of his administration.

ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio L. Lopez III had earlier this month sought to allay fears that the President’s remarks against the company could affect its application for renewal of its franchise.

“I don’t anticipate any significant issues. Definitely, there’s some political noise, but we don’t anticipate this will undergo any significant problems,” Mr. Lopez said during ABS-CBN’s annual stockholders’ meeting on April 6.

ABS-CBN recorded a P3.5-billion net income in 2016, up 39% from the P2.5 billion seen in 2015 as election-related advertising drove revenues higher.

Shares in ABS-CBN dipped 0.33% or 15 centavos to close at P45.85 apiece on Thursday. -- Ian Nicolas P. Cigaral

http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Corporate&title=duterte-nixes-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal&id=144421

Duterte says will block ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Vows to fight Inquirer owners over Makati property and hits NYT
President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he would block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which expires in 2020, after accusing the company of accepting money for a campaign ad that failed to air before the May 9, 2016 polls, and then failing to return the money.

Speaking to reporters in an ambush interview, Duterte alleged that other politicians may be in the same boat, and that this was ground for not allowing the company to operate.

Duterte said ABS-CBN's franchise has been there for 25 years. Its renewal is pending in Congress.

"So, I will file a complaint. Congress, no need to renew it. But to operate is something else, so I will point this out, yung basura ninyo. Then we’ll see."

Duterte also attacked the Philippine Daily Inquirer for issuing stinging editorials against him, and said he will fight the Inquirer's owners over the Mile Long property in Makati.

A dispute between the government and the owners of the prime property is pending in court.

"I will recover the property for the Filipino. Everybody who has a tax obligation must talk now. Within 6 months time, I will go after them," he said.

Duterte said he is intent on taking on the country's oligarchs, which he had been railing against since the 2016 presidential campaign.

He also criticized the New York Times for its scathing piece that called for his condemnation, saying the publication must stop.

Renewal sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN haharangin ni Duterte

Tiniyak ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na hindi lulusot ang application ng ABS-CBN para sa renewal ng kanilang prangkisa.

Sa isang ambush interview sa Malacañang, sinabi ng pangulo na hindi niya nagustuhan ang ginawang pambabastos sa kanya ng nasabing broadcast network noong panahon ng eleksyon.

Muling niyang inungkat ang hindi pag-eere ng ABS-CBN sa kanyang mga biniling TV advertisement pero hindi naman daw ibinalik ang kanyang ibinayad para dito.

Inakusahan rin niya ang nasabing media firm na nagpagamit sa ilang grupo makaraang payagang maisahimpapawid ang mga black propaganda laban kay Duterte noong panahon ng kampanya.

Samantala, sinabi rin ni Duterte na ipinakakalkal na niya ang kaso ng hindi pagbabayad ng buwis ng pamilya Prieto na siyang may-ari ng Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Sinabi ni Duterte na kasangkot si dating Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Kim Henarez sa pagtatago sa tax liabilities ng mga may-ari ng nasabing pahayagan.

Binanggit rin ng pangulo na interesado siyang malaman kung paanong napunta sa kamay ng isang pamilya ang isang malaking lupain sa Makati na umano’y matagal nang pinagtatalunan mula pa noong panahon ni dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos.

Ang tinutukoy ng pangulo ay ang “mile long property” na pagmamay-ari ng pamilya Rufino at Prieto.

Tinawag rin ni Duterte na “basura” ang New York Times makaraan umano siyang batikusin sa kanilang editorial ng wala namang sapat na basehan.

Sinabi ng pangulo na hindi dapat binibigyan ng espasyo sa media ang mga isyung kaugnay sa kanyang kampanya kontra sa iligal na droga.

Imbes na tumulong para sugpuin ang droga ay mas tinututukan umano ng media ang karapatan ng mga napapatay na kriminal kahit na lumabas sa mga imbestigasyon na lumaban ang mga ito sa mga otoridad na naging dahilan ng kanilang kamatayan.

Duterte threatens to block ABS-CBN franchise, curses at NYT

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to block ABS-CBN's legislative franchise renewal and once again cursed at the New York Times over coverage critical of him.

Duterte slammed ABS-CBN over alleged swindling and estafa and said that he would file a complaint against the network.

"So, I will file a complaint. Congress, need to renew it. But to operate is something else, so I will point this out, yung basura ninyo (your garbage), then we’ll see," he said.

"[The franchise] has been there for about 25 years. Sabi ng batas okay na, (the law says it's okay) only if you adhere to journalistic [standards]. Ang ginawa ninyo sa amin (What you did to us was) estafa, swindling, not only me but (Chiz) Escudero, marami pa yan (there's more). P***** i** harap-harapan magkolekta kayo tapos estafa ninyo kami (S** o* * b****, you'll collect money then you'll commit estafa)."

Franchises

Republic Act 3846 (RA 3846), the law on the regulation of radio stations and radio communications, requires commercial broadcasting corporations to secure a franchise from Congress in order to operate. A franchise undergoes the same process a bill goes through as it is granted in the form of a law.

The premise of RA 3846 is that airwaves are not owned by broadcast stations but by the government. The latter can grant the former the temporary privilege of using the airwaves in the form of a franchise.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, which has also been critical of laspes in media ethics, last year criticized the need for congressional approval of a franchise as it could be used as a weapon to control media.

It compared the Philippine process with the United States where it said applications for the operation of  broadcast stations is "relatively easier." 

"[I]n the United States... only the independent Federal Communications Commission is responsible for granting operation permits and renewing licenses. Applications are paperless and accomplished online," the CMFR said.

Duterte's threat to the network came after the release of the 2017 World Press Freedom Index, where the Philippines rose in ranking from 138th in 2016 to 127th this year.

The index, however, voiced concerns about Duterte's "unveiled encouragement of violence against journalists."

ABS-CBN has earned the ire of the president and his supporters for airing a negative advertisement paid for by Duterte critic and then vice presidential candidate Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.

NYT 'must stop' publication

Duterte also lashed at the New York Times (NYT) over its recent editorial tagging him as "a man who must be stopped" over human rights violations. The president said that it is NYT's publication that must stop.

"Well, it's about time that their publication also must stop. Amerikano (Americans) you're playing like the morals. You didn't realize that you invaded a country in the name of God?" he said.

"Remember the time they invaded a sovereign country like Panama, kidnapped the president and brought him to America to stand trial and he's serving prison time there... Sa Iraq you invaded Iraq. Why? Because of the weapons of mass destruction. How many died? What was found there? Nothing... New York Times a** h***... You better stop your publishing."

Duterte was referring to Manuel Noriega, who was prosecuted and jailed in the US for drug trafficking, racketeering, and money laundering in 1992. The Panamanian dictator was extradited to France in 2010 for a conviction for money laundering and extradited again to Panama in 2011 to face a conviction for murder and to be held accountable for human rights violations there.

NYT has also criticized Duterte before over the spate of killings in his drug war.

Duterte: 'Who's corrupt?'

Duterte also vowed to get back within six months the government property that is allegedly now in the hands of the owners of Inquirer.

 

"The oligarchs, the number one among them are the Prietos, the owners of Inquirer. You can be sure that I will proceed with you harshly. Or return the property of the people. How much did you pay for it? Maybe just one peso," he said.

 

Duterte said the Mile Long property in Makati is owned by the Rufinos who are now connected to the Prietos through marriage.

 

"I assure you, after all of these things here, I will start to recover what is government’s property, including ‘that Inquirer. The loudest, one of the loudest of it all," the president said.

 

The president also accused the paper of being a phony crusader and a crony.

 

"From Marcos crony to Aquino... Corazon, you are cronies. You’ve always been a crony. And it has long expired, the lease of that property," he said.

 

Duterte also claimed that the Prietos had a P1.5-billion tax deficiency but former Internal Revenue commissioner Kim Henares allowed them to get away with it by paying just P8 million.

 

"You have to return and you have to pay your taxes. P1.5 billion…There is a pending case in the Ombudsman. And I urge the Ombudsman also to fast-track the case because it is property owned by the people," the president said.

"By this time the income of that property should be going to the National Treasury. We will run after them."

 

The president also badmouthed Inquirer.net editor-in-chief John Nery, whom he erroneously described as the successor of the late Inquirer editor-in-chief Letty Jimenez-Magsanoc

 

"Mukhang pera 'yang buang na 'yan…Sabihin mo sa kanya, ang kapal ng mukha niya (That fool is money-faced. Tell him he is thick-faced)," he said.

http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2017/04/27/1694522/duterte-threatens-block-abs-cbn-franchise-curses-nyt