Palace hits criticism contrasting government's shutdown of ABS-CBN, grant of POGO reopening

MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday shot down criticism against government's order stopping broadcast operations of media giant ABS-CBN Corp. while it allowed the reopening of Chinese-run Philippine offshore gaming operations (POGOs) even while COVID-19 business restrictions remain in place.

In a virtual press briefing, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the two situations may not be compared. He pointed out that POGOs, which cater to Chinese nationals overseas, employ more Filipinos at 35,000. ABS-CBN has around 11,000 workers.

"Hindi po apples to apples 'yan," he said in a virtual press briefing.

(That's not apples to apples.)

"Ang importante po 'yung kikitain natin sa POGO na mahigit P1 bilyon kada buwan ay pupunta po lahat sa COVID-19," he added.

(What's important is our earnings of over P1 billion from POGOs per month will be used for the COVID-19 response.)

ABS-CBN was forced off the air on Tuesday after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a "cease and desist" order against its broadcast operations after its franchise expired on Monday, May 4.

The shutdown came just days after the Palace announced that POGOs, which employs a workforce mostly from China, can resume operations during the coronavirus crisis.

Some netizens have slammed government, asking why ABS-CBN was forced to shut down during the coronavirus crisis while POGOs are allowed to operate anew.

• POGOs allowed to resume partially after getting BPO status: regulator

Even before ABS-CBN's closure, government's push for the reopening of POGOs while only essential businesses are allowed already drew criticism, with lawmakers citing the involvement of the Chinese-run firms in corruption, prostitution and other crimes.

• Senators eye measure to 'stop' POGOs amid spate of 'illicit' activities
• 44 Chinese nationals, 9 Pinoys nabbed for POGO ops despite lockdown

UP TO CONGRESS

To resolve the franchise woes of the network, Roque said ABS-CBN should seek Congressional approval. ABS-CBN's franchise bills have been pending for years, going back to when Roque was still a member of the House as sectoral representative.

"Ang solusyon, kinakailangan hingin ng ABS-CBN ang kaniyang prangkisa sa Kongreso," he said.

(The solution is ABS-CBN should ask Congress for its franchise.)

"Hindi naman po nagbubulag-bulagan, hindi naman po nagbibingi-bingihan ang mga congressman sa hinaing ng kanilang mga constitutents," he added.

(Our congressmen are not playing blind or deaf to the sentiments of their constituents.)

Roque also maintained that President Rodrigo Duterte is "neutral" when it comes to the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.

"Wala na pong ibang magagawa si Presidente kundi sabihin sa kaniyang mga kaalyado sa kongreso bumoto kayo ayon sa inyong mga konsiyensya," he said.

(The President can't do anything else but tell his allies in Congress to vote according to their conscience.)

• Duterte asks Congress: Why not just pass ABS-CBN franchise?

President Duterte had repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise over unaired political advertisements during the 2016 elections.

On December 30, 2019, the President even urged the owners of ABS-CBN to just sell the company.

While Duterte in February accepted ABS-CBN's apology over the issue of his unaired political advertisements, he clarified that he would leave the fate of the company's franchise to Congress, which is dominated by his allies.

• ABS-CBN chief says all Duterte national pol ads aired
• Shuttered ABS-CBN to continue helping Filipinos during pandemic

It was Duterte's appointee as government's lead legal defender, Solicitor General Jose Calida, who pressured the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to issue a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN, his letter to the agency showed.

News.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.

• READ: Calida pressed NTC to issue cease and desist order vs ABS-CBN, document shows