No direct pressure from Duterte over ABS-CBN franchise —Rep. Albano

Isabela Rep. Antonio "Tonypet" Albano on Thursday said there was no direct pressure from President Rodrigo Duterte in connection with the pending legislation seeking to extend the franchise of broadcast network ABS-CBN.

"I never said that President Duterte directly pressured us congressman," he said in a statement.

"The President has never interfered and does not intend to interfere in the business of Congress," he added. "He values separation of powers and has much respect for us to do so."

Albano is the vice chairperson of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, which is handling the franchise renewal application of ABS-CBN.

In an interview on Wednesday, Albano said he and his colleagues at the committee were feeling the pressure due to the rift between Duterte and ABS-CBN.

Duterte had repeatedly said he would block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which will expire on March 30. He accused ABS-CBN of not airing a political advertisement in 2016 that was already paid for by his campaign team.

A petition seeking to forfeit ABS-CBN’s franchise over alleged violations was also filed this week by the Office of the Solicitor General.

ABS-CBN said it did not violate the law and that it had complied with government regulations.

Albano, in his statement, said Duterte values the right to have freedom of speech.

He however warned that such right could be curtailed by the government when it "is used for false news and slander the inherent basic rights of any person." —KBK, GMA News