Malacañang has clarified that the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise is not at the hands of President Rodrigo Duterte.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo today said the decision to renew the franchise of one of the biggest network in the Philippines is up to Congress.
“ABS-CBN ang expiration next year pa eh, tsaka Congress naman. Nasa Kongreso ang bola niyan, hindi naman kay Presidente,” said Panelo.
The franchise of the Lopez-led network will expire in March 2020.
Duterte has been vocal on his criticism about ABS-CBN after the network allegedly did not air a 2016 campaign that the president paid for.
The president accused the network showing a TV spot instead that was critical of him and was paid by his critic, former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV.
