Despite continued objection to ABS-CBN’s congressional franchise renewal, Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte does not want the network to go out business.
In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Panelo said the renewal of the broadcast giant’s franchise for Congress to decide.
“He does not want that to happen. It’s for Congress to decide, it’s not his. He doesn’t have the power and even if he has, his power can be overruled by Congress itself,” Panelo pointed out.
“If he has some axe to grind personally against ABS-CBN then he will sue them for it. But certainly, he will not [want it] shut down, because he cannot in the first place, ABS-CBN.”
He added that it is up to Supreme Court to decide over quo warranto petition filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
Several bills seeking to extend ABS-CBN’s franchise remains pending in House of Representatives.
If not acted upon, the license of the network will expire on March 30, 2020.
