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ABS-CBN 'grateful, humbled' by Duterte acceptance of apology

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2017/generic/20170517-abs-company-1-fsj.jpg"/><figcaption>This photo shows the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Center in Diliman, Quezon City, May 18, 2017. <em>Fernando G. Sepe, Jr., ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Network to donate ad refund money to charity</h2><p>MANILA <strong>(UPDATE)</strong> - ABS-CBN Corp. said Thursday it was &quot;grateful and humbled&quot; that President Rodrigo Duterte accepted its apology over a critical campaign commercial, adding that it would coordinate with his office to donate a refund for his unaired ads to charity.</p><p>The country&#x27;s largest media and entertainment company, which is working to renew its franchise from Congress, committed to &quot;becoming a better organization and to continue to provide more meaningful service to Filipinos.&quot;</p><p>ABS-CBN&#x27;s current franchise will expire on May 4. Duterte said a new license would be up for lawmakers to decide. His eldest daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, on Thursday expressed her support for a new franchise for the network.</p><p>&quot;We are grateful and humbled by President Rodrigo Duterte’s acceptance of our apology,&quot; ABS-CBN said in a statement.</p><p>&quot;We will coordinate with the President’s office as it relates to his guidance on donating the refund to a charitable institution,&quot; it added. </p><p>ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak on Monday apologized “if we offended the President,” over a 2016 election ad that showed Duterte cursing and several children asking if his actions were right.</p><p>The network was “just abiding by the laws and regulations that surround the airing of political ads,” Katigbak said during a Senate hearing into ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise compliance. </p><p>Katigbak also said that due to an airtime limit, ABS-CBN failed to air around P7 million worth of Duterte&#x27;s local ads. Of this amount, the network gave back P4 million while the refund for the remaining P2.6 million was delayed and rejected by the President&#x27;s camp.</p><p>Before the public apology, Duterte made several public pronouncements opposing ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise. On Wednesday, he accepted the apology and told the network to give the refund to &quot;any charitable institution of their choice.&quot;</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/20/abs-cbn-boss-apologizes-denies-network-pushes-own-political-agenda">ABS-CBN boss apologizes, denies network pushes &#x27;own political agenda&#x27;</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/02/24/20/abs-cbn-chief-says-all-duterte-national-pol-ads-aired">ABS-CBN chief says all Duterte national pol ads aired</a></li></ul><div><strong>‘BLANKET AUTHORITY’</strong></div><p>The Office of the President doesn&#x27;t have to coordinate with ABS-CBN over the donation since Duterte already gave the TV network a “blanket authority,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said.</p><p>“In the first place, there is no need for guidance. The President has given them the blanket authority. Just donate it to your favorite charitable organization,” he said.</p><p>The House of Representatives has yet to tackle several bills seeking a fresh license to operate for ABS-CBN. The Senate held a hearing on Monday on the network&#x27;s compliance with its current franchise.</p><p>ABS-CBN is also facing a challenge lodged before the Supreme Court by Solicitor General Jose Calida. The government&#x27;s lead lawyer sought to nullify ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise due to alleged abuses like illegal pay-per-view offering and foreign ownership. </p><p>The network, which reaches millions of Filipinos through its television, radio and online platforms, said it &quot;did not violate the law&quot; in its 65-year service. </p><div><em>News.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.</em></div>

<p>ABS-CBN Corp. said Thursday it was "grateful and humbled" that President Rodrigo Duterte accepted its apology over a critical campaign commercial, adding that it would coordinate with his office to donate a refund for his unaired ads to charity.</p>

ABS-CBN Corp. said Thursday it was "grateful and humbled" that President Rodrigo Duterte accepted its apology over a critical campaign commercial, adding that it would coordinate with his office to donate a refund for his unaired ads to charity.