Duterte's ‘love for country’ drives his fight against abusive practices, says Go

President Rodrigo Duterte's devotion for his country fuels his administration's bid to end corrupt and abusive practices, according to his former aide Senator Christopher "Bong" Go on Tuesday.

"This fight against corruption and abusive practices stems from his love for country. I will continue to support the President in this fight in order to rid our country of corruption from top to bottom," Go said in a statement.

"Kung mahal mo ang bayan mo, ipaglalaban mo ito laban sa lahat ng nang-aabuso mula sa pinakamaliit hanggang sa pinakamakapangyarihang gumagawa ng masama sa kapwa nating Pilipino," he added.

Go said the oligarchs, terrorists, criminals and corrupt officials are "enemies" in the eyes of Duterte.

In a televised speech aired earlier in the day, Duterte boasted of being able to dismantle oligarchy in the Philippines without declaring martial law.

“Kung mamatay ako, mahulog eroplano, p***ngina, I am very happy. Alam mo [kung] bakit? Without declaring martial law, I dismantled the oligarchy that controlled the economy of the Philippines,” Duterte said.

“Without declaring martial law, sinira ko iyang mga tao na humahawak sa ekonomiya, hindi nagbabayad [ng tax]. They take advantage of their political power every election. Isang kuwarto lang iyan, nag-uusap, 'Sinong kandidato natin ngayon?' Isang pamilya lang nag-uusap,” he added.

Duterte did not mention names but his remark came a few days after the House of Representatives junked ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise application.

In previous years, the President has repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of the media giant's franchise as he ranted that ABS-CBN failed to air his political campaign ads in 2016.

Go said the President was merely "talking about the impact of the administration’s continuing fight against corruption" and not pertaining to any specific case.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque also clarified that Duterte was not referring to the Lopez family, which owns ABS-CBN.

Roque said it was coincidental that the President’s speech came in the wake of the denial of the franchise renewal.

“I believe so kasi palagi naman niya sinasabi sa mga talumpati niya ‘yung mga oligarchs na talagang siya mismong bumuwag. Ito naman pong kaso ng ABS-CBN eh kaso po na nag-expire ang prangkisa at hindi na-renew ng Kongreso,” he said.

'Good intention but...'

Senator Sonny Angara, meanwhile, acknowledged the good motive of Duterte in levelling the playing field for economic stakeholders but noted that the closure of ABS-CBN did not sit well with many Filipinos.

"Maganda ang intensyon ng Pangulo na gawing mas patas ang ekonomiya at lipunan. Ngunit marami ang nakapuna na sumobra ata ang ginawang paghusga sa ABS-CBN kung ikukumpara sa diumanong mga 'kasalanan' o [violation] nito," he said.

"Madami din ang pumuna na ibang-iba ang trato sa ABS-CBN kumpara sa ibang may hawak din ng prangkisa at 'di naging patas ang laban," he added.

Voting 70-11, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises junked the franchise application of ABS-CBN last Friday, citing that its former Chairman Eugenio Lopez III was both a Filipino and American citizen, and its issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts supposedly favored foreigners.

The company's alleged inappropriate program content, meddling in politics, tax avoidance schemes; and less than exemplary labor practices were also among the reasons laid out in the committee resolution.

Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, for his part, said "big businessmen who produce goods and services that benefit consumers, create many jobs, pay taxes and with strong corporate social responsibility should be celebrated and emulated."

"Those that violate laws should be prosecuted," he added.

During the House deliberations, the Bureau of Internal Revenue, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Department of Labor and Employment all attested that ABS-CBN did not violate any law.

Malacanang, on the other hand, maintained that Duterte has a neutral stance on the franchise issue and asked Filipinos to move on. —LDF, GMA News