Roque claims Ressa playing victim card in raising ABS-CBN issue after arraignment

Malacañang on Wednesday accused Rappler CEO Maria Ressa of “playing the victim card” after she raised the issue of the non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s broadcast franchise following her arraignment on tax evasion charges.

Ressa pleaded not guilty before the Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 157 on Wednesday on charges of failing to report sales receipts from the issuance and sale of Philippine Depositary Receipts in the second quarter of 2015.

After the arraignment, Ressa told reporters that it was “unthinkable” that ABS-CBN, where she once served as its news division chief, “shut down” amid the COVID-19 pandemic which “enabled the government to quickly consolidate power.”

“It is very evident that Maria Ressa is playing the victim card by talking about the non-renewal of the broadcast franchise of ABS-CBN after filing her ‘not guilty’ plea before a local court,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Roque said the grant of a broadcast franchise was the sole and exclusive prerogative of Congress. He added that the Palace was neutral on the issue as a courtesy to a co-equal branch of the government.

“ABS-CBN, Rappler, and other news entities continue to report on the events happening in the country.  A good case in point is the ABS-CBN News coverage of the ‘not guilty’ plea of Ressa, which can be read online,” Roque said.

“There is certainly no truth to Ms. Ressa’s allegation. The press can keep on reporting as long as there is no violation and has the right to continue its operations.”

ABS-CBN failed to secure a fresh 25-year broadcast franchise after its application was rejected on July 10 by the House of Representatives legislative franchises committee—a decision that drew mixed reactions. -NB, GMA News