Palace on ABS-CBN franchise renewal poll results: ‘Noted’

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Sunday merely took note of survey results that found a significant majority of Filipinos supported a franchise for ABS-CBN Corp., contrary to his earlier remarks that the broadcaster's franchise rejection was the "decision of the people."

In an emailed statement, Roque responded to the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that found that 75 percent of Filipinos supported a franchise for ABS-CBN.

"The Palace notes the July 3-6 National Mobile Survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS), which shows that a majority of adult Filipinos believe that Congress should renew the franchise of ABS-CBN Corporation," he said.

"We lost a media partner in information dissemination, considering that the broadcast network has one of the widest, if not the widest reach, in the archipelago," he added.

That SWS poll results released over the weekend also found that 56 percent of Filipinos considered the non-renewal a major blow to press freedom.

Just last week, Roque defended the rejection of the ABS-CBN franchise renewal, as he claimed it was the decision of the Filipino people.

"Well, alam ninyo po, ang taumbayan naman talaga po ang pinagmulan ng binding effect; ng legal effect ng ating Saligang Batas. Ang taumbayan ang nagdesisyon po na hindi pupuwedeng magnegosyo sa isang broadcast industry na walang prangkisa na inaprubahan ng representante ng taumbayan," he said in a radio interview on dzBB.

On Sunday, Roque distanced himself from Friday's events and said that it was Congress who rejected the franchise renewal application.

"That being said, we reiterate that the granting of the broadcasting franchise is the sole and exclusive prerogative of Congress," he said.

A House of Representatives panel last week voted to deny the broadcaster's franchise application, even as several government agencies maintained that it had no violations.

Prior to the decision of the House Panel, Duterte consistently threatened to oppose the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, as he earlier claimed the network did not air political advertisements during the 2016 election campaign which were already paid for.

Several business groups such as the Makati Business Club called on Congress to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN to ensure equal treatment of all businesses and effectively boost investor sentiment.

Government agencies such as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), have cleared ABS-CBN Corp. from violations. — DVM, GMA News