Netizens Rejoice After PRRD Vows To End ABS-CBN’s Franchise Renewal Next Year

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, December 3, announced that he is not bent on granting the renewal of the 25-year congressional franchise to local broadcast network ABS-CBN.

According to Philippine News Agency, President Duterte made the pronouncement before the newly-appointed government officials, as he was still irked by ABS-CBN’s supposed bias by slanting reports about him.

“ABS-CBN, you’re a mouthpiece of… Your franchise will end next year,” President Duterte said in a speech delivered at the Palace’s Heroes Hall.

ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire in 2020 and a bill seeking to renew the network’s franchise for 25 years remains pending in Congress because of the President’s opposition.

“If you are expecting that it will be renewed, I’m sorry, you’re out. I will see to it you’re out,” he added.

Several bills have been filed at the House of Representatives, seeking the renewal of the local media giant’s congressional franchise.

However, the House franchise committee has not tabled the proposed measures for discussion.

Radio and television broadcast firms in the country are required to seek a franchise from Congress, pursuant to Republic Act 3846.

In his latest speech, President lambasted ABS-CBN anew for alleged failure to air his paid advertisements on television during the 2016 presidential campaign but aired the controversial campaign materials of opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV.

In August 2018, President Duterte revealed that ABS-CBN kept on sending an emissary to his office to negotiate the renewal of its franchise.

The President said he would not change his mind, despite the news outfit’s persistence to come to him “begging”.

Meanwhile, netizens rejoiced on social media over the news that President Duterte will end the franchise renewal of bias mainstream media, ABS-CBN.