Duterte gave ABS-CBN blanket authority where to donate P2.6m campaign ad refund – Palace

February 27, 2020

ABS-CBN does not need to seek any guidance from President Rodrigo Duterte's office on where to donate his P2.6-million refund from the giant network, a Palace official said on Thursday.

The Lopez-owned company welcomed Duterte's acceptance of apology, which its president and chief executive officer Carlo Katigbak made during a Senate hearing on the company's franchise early this week.

In a statement on Thursday, ABS-CBN also said it will coordinate with Duterte's office regarding the guidance on donating the refund to a charitable institution.

"In the first place, there is no need for guidance, the President has already given them blanket authority - just donate it to your favorite charitable organization. So, there is no need for guidance," said Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo in a press briefing.

"In other words, the discretion to choose is already given to them," he added.

On Wednesday night, Duterte said he accepted ABS-CBN's apology but he distanced himself from the network's petition for the renewal of its franchise before the House of Representatives.

During the Senate hearing, Katigbak apologized to Duterte if they offended him.

The television network failed to air Duterte's campaign ads despite payment during the 2016 elections while the network allowed the airing of then opposition Senator Antonio Trillanes IV's campaign ads "maligning" him.

Katigbak said ABS-CBN refunded Duterte's camp P4 million from the supposed P7-million worth of local ads. 

He admitted, however, that there was a delay in reimbursing the remaining amount of P2.6 million in ad money.

Duterte said he would not accept the P2.6 million anymore and ABS-CBN could just give it to any charitable institution. Celerina Monte/DMS