Duterte says if it were up to him, ABS-CBN franchise should not be renewed

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday lashed out anew at broadcast network ABS-CBN, saying that if it were up to him, its franchise will not be renewed.

"Now, ABS-CBN, ‘yung franchise nila is due for renewal. Sige padala ng emissary kausapin ako. Pinaalis na nila si Gabby [Lopez] eh, kasi nila nothing will happen eh. I will not talk to you. But I will never also intervene. Pero if I had my way, I will not give it back to you. Magnanakaw kayo eh. Niloloko ninyo ‘yung maliliit.," Duterte said in a speech delivered at the inauguration of Northern Mindanao Wellness and Reintegration Center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

"Kaya kong sabihin kay Gabby Lopez, “P***** i** mo mukha kang pera," he said.

Duterte was referring to his political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign which he said were paid for but did not air on ABS-CBN. Lopez is the network's chairman emeritus, but was chairman at the time of the 2016 elections.

"Kami ‘yung—because money was not there. So ‘nung panahon na tumaas na ‘yung rating ko, mga last minute, two days before. Anong… How would you spend it? You went to buy boats? Then you have to verify. In two days, can you do that? Kung binayad ko na lang sana na maski maka—for the first time may maglalabas ‘yung mukha ko. Tinanggap ‘yung two million ko, ang p***** i** niya, hindi lang man lumabas…," he added.

"Marami kami. Marami kami. Most of the congressman. Kasi --- p***** i** itong mga ABS-CBN. F*** you," Duterte said.

"Sige hirit, sige kuha ng pera namin, hindi naman pina… Not even say, 'We’re sorry but we could not find the appropriate space for your advertisements,'" the President said.

"Kaya binabastos ko kayo. Kayong mga mayaman? Talagang binabastos ko kayo kasi bastos kayo numero uno eh," he said.

In April 2017, Duterte first lashed out at ABS-CBN and Philippine Daily Inquirer for what he says was unfair coverage dating back to the campaign period.

He hit out at the television network then for supposedly not airing a political ad that was already paid for by his campaign.

When asked if he had plans to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, he replied, "Yes." The franchise is set to expire in 2020.

"If ganoon ka kaano, you're engaged in swindling for all we know ilang kompanya dito na hindi n'yo pinalabas. If you operate, ABS-CBN, tapos manloloko lang kayo ng tao, mag-swindling kayo, I have to stop you, 'di ba?" he said.

In December 2017, however, Duterte said he was willing to enter into a compromise deal with ABS-CBN if the company would promote his bid for a shift to a federal form of government.

GMA News Online is contacting ABS-CBN Corp. for comment as of posting time. —KG, GMA News