Palace to ABS-CBN: Donate the refund to your favorite charitable organization

President Rodrigo Duterte has already given ABS-CBN the “blanket authority” on what to do with the rejected refund for his unaired campaign ads during the 2016 election, Malacañang said Thursday.

Duterte on Wednesday accepted ABS-CBN’s apology over the unaired ads and asked them to donate the P2.6-million refund to charity.

ABS-CBN responded that they would coordinate with the President's office for guidance with regard to the donation. 

“There is no need for guidance. The President has already given them blanket authority. Just donate it to your favorite charitable organization,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo told reporters.

The unaired advertisements had long been the center of Duterte’s tirades against ABS-CBN, but Panelo said these sentiments should not be interpreted to mean that the President seeks to shutter the network. 

ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal bid is currently pending in Congress. —LDF, GMA News