Palace distances itself on call of some administration lawmakers to impose more sanctions vs ABS-CBN

July 20, 2020

Malacañang distanced itself on Monday on the call of some administration lawmakers to impose more sanctions against ABS-CBN Corp., including the seizure of its headquarters in Quezon City.

In a virtual press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque refused to comment on the statements made by Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta, Deputy Majority Leader Jesus Crispin Remulla and Anakalusugan Rep. Michael Defensor that ABS-CBN should be penalized, such as imposing fine of P1.97 trillion over its alleged violation of the terms of its expired franchise and ejecting the compnay from is 44,000-square meter headquarters on Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City.

"I don't have any comment on that. That is an individual opinion of our lawmakers, our policy makers," he said.

"We respect their view, but we take no stand," Roque added.

The three congressmen appeared in an online forum on Friday after receiving massive criticisms from the public following the House committee on legislative franchises refusal to grant ABS-CBN's application for the renewal of its 25-year franchise that expired on May 4.

Marcoleta, Remulla and Defensor were among those who grilled the ABS-CBN executives during the franchise hearing and among the 70 lawmakers who voted against the renewal of the network's franchise.

During the online forum, Marcoleta suggested that ABS-CBN should be fined P1.97 trillion and he also proposed that the network be evicted on its Quezon City headquarters, claiming that the Lopez family does not rightfully own the property. 

ABS-CBN earlier announced of retrenching some of its 11,000 workers due to failure to secure new franchise. Celerina Monte/DMS