Presidential Sister Jocellyn Duterte-Villarica expressed her support to the franchise extension of ABS-CBN, the broadcasting company repeatedly criticized by her older brother in the past.
In a Facebook post, Duterte-Villarica said that ABS-CBN should be given mercy and let them operate instead of being forced to close down like what the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) did.
“Abs CBN should get the EXTENSION they are asking for, dapat mai puso rin ang BATAS clemency should be applied…”, Duterte wrote.
Most of her followers, who are supporters of President Duterte was surprised by the support of the presidential sister to the network.
However, the presidential sister defended her stand on the ABS-CBN franchise issue.
“Hindi lng si Cayetano ang nag desisyon niyan, nasa batas yan bigyan ng due process, Madam,kaya nga pinapairal yan,kasi kung hindi, sasabihin nila bakit hindi gawin ang pagdinig ng karapatan nila, yan ang due process…gets mo!Pag ayaw ng congreso pagbigyan ang panawagan nila para sa extension, mai kinikilingan cla? Cno ngayon ang masasangkot sa usapan? Cge pag isipan mo!” Duterte said.
Duterte also told one of the netizens not to judge ABS-CBN ‘without the benefit of due process’.
“Sir yun po mindset ninyo, you are judging them without the benefit of due process”…
So therefore you want it it as “trial by publicity”…labag sa batas!” she said.
The Presidential sister also said that popular people like Angel Locsin also asked the government to give ABS-CBN a chance.
“Humingi na po ng tawad si Charo, at si Angel naman nakikiusap, makinig naman tayo na ang hinihingi nila ay bigyan cla ng karapatan humingi ng extension, habang inaayos ang mga isyu…hindi ibig sabihin abswelto na cla sa pananagutan nila! Dba po?..
.Bago ako husgaan wala akong tinangap na pabuya, hindi ako ganon! ,Ang hustisya wlang kinikilingan, tao lng humusga sa kapwa…mero din naman clang karapatan marinig…hindi trial by publicity…ano man ang kasalanan, panagutan… yan ang batas… tao lng nagkakamali,” she stated.
A few days ago, the House of Representatives led by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano granted provisional franchise to ABS-CBN until October 31.
“Providing ABS-CBN with a provisional franchise valid until 31 October 2020 will give both the House of Representatives and the Senate [the opportunity] to hear the issues being raised for and against the renewal, and assess, with complete impartiality and fairness, whether or not the network shall be granted a franchise for another (25) years. We cannot, in good conscience, sweep the accusations under the rug,” the bill said.