PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said that he will be filing multiple syndicated estafa complaints against broadcast giant ABS-CBN for its alleged failure to air more than P2.8 million worth of campaign advertisements, and once again threatened to block its franchise renewal set for 2020.
“Gabby Lopez, I paid P2.8 million,” Duterte said, referring to Eugenio Lopez III, chairman of ABS-CBN.
“I was only able to gather money during the last weeks of my candidacy… and I begged you to air my ad. You took my money but you never bothered to show my propaganda,” Duterte said in Filipino in a speech in Davao City.
He said ABS-CBN had grown complacent about its franchise but said he would file charges of multiple syndicated estafa against the broadcast giant.
“Ang kakapal ng mukha ninyo, p**** i** ninyo, letche kayo, [Your face is so thick, you sons of bitches],” he added.
Duterte said ABS-CBN did the same thing to defeated vice presidential candidates Senator Francis Escudero and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and defeated senatorial candidate former Pasig Rep. Roman Romulo.
Duterte also accused the Lopez-owned media giant of “biased” and inaccurate reportage.
“This ABS-CBN, you’re a son of a whore, and all you care about is money. The when you editorialize, we’re the bad guys, but actually, you’re the thieves,” he said.
Two bills were earlier introduced in the 16th Congress for the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise granted in March 1995: one by Isabela Rep. Giorgidi Aggabao, filed in September 2014, and another by Baguio Rep. Nicasio M. Aliping Jr., filed in December of the same year but none were laid before former President Benigno Aquino III’s table.
The proposed bills would renew ABS-CBN’s right to operate TV and radio broadcasting stations in the Philippines through microwave, satellite or whatever means, including the use of new technologies in television and radio systems.
In the same speech, Duterte threatened to let mob rule occupy a 2.9-hectare property leased by Rufino and Prieto families, owners of the newspaper Philippine Daily Inquirer if they would not return the lands they developed back to the government.
“Return the property. Otherwise, I would tell the Filipino people, go there and occupy your property,” Duterte said, as he accused the Prietos of being corrupt.
Duterte said that should they return these properties, he plans to sell them and use its proceeds to fund government housing projects.
