Vice presidential candidate Sara Duterte-Carpio has recently refrained from sharing her opinion on the matter of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal. But two years ago, as Davao City mayor, she expressed support for the country’s largest broadcasting network.
STATEMENT
In a March 1 conference of the Vice Mayors’ League of the Philippines, Duterte-Carpio was asked during a chance interview if she will “support moves to restore the franchise of ABS-CBN.”
She said:
“As vice president, wala po akong power diyaan of granting franchises. So nasa Congress po ‘yan, nasa House of Representatives, and sa Senate … Susunod po tayo kung ano po ‘yung desisyon ng branch of government that is empowered to do that. So nasa Congress po ‘yan at kung anong desisyon ng Congress, ‘yan po ang masusunod.”
(As vice president, I don’t have any power [over] granting franchises. It will be up to Congress, the House of Representatives, and the Senate … we will abide by the decision of the branch of government that is empowered to do that. So it is up to Congress, and whatever Congress decides will be followed.)
Source: Twitter account of People’s Television Network, “WATCH: Vice presidential candidate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on granting media network ABS-CBN a franchise…,” March 1, 2022, watch from 00:06 to 00:45
Duterte-Carpio is running under the Lakas Christian Muslim Democrats with presidential hopeful Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
FACT
This statement needs context. Despite having no power over the matter as Davao City mayor, Duterte-Carpio did not hesitate to express her hope for ABS-CBN’s bid for a franchise renewal two years ago.
Read the full story on VERA Files Fact Check.
