President Rodrigo Duterte, addressing ABS-CBN chairman Gabby Lopez, launches another curse-filled tirade against the TV network
MANILA, Philippines – In another rage-filled outburst against ABS-CBN, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that he will file charges of "multiple syndicated estafa" against the television network.
"I'm telling you now, I will be filing charges of multple syndicated estafa," he said in his speech at the launch of housing designs for the military and police in Davao City on Friday, May 19.
He quickly followed this up with a slew of curses: "Kawalang hiya ninyo, kapal ng mukha ninyo, putangina ninyo leche kayo (You have no shame, your faces are too thick, you sons of bitches)."
At the start of his rant, he addressed ABS-CBN chairman Eugenio "Gabby" Lopez III.
"Gabby Lopez, I paid ABS-CBN P2.8 million....You accepted my money, you never bothered to show my propaganda (political advertisements). After the elections, you didn't return the money," said Duterte.
The President claimed political advertisements of other candidates met the same fate. These candidates include his running mate, Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano; and Senator Francis Escudero, a vice-presidential candidate.
Duterte had earlier vowed to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's 25-year legislative franchise which grants it the right to operate as a broadcasting firm.
Its current franchise will expire while Duterte is still in power. House Bill 4349 seeking to renew the franchise is still at the committee level. (READ: ABS-CBN franchise not for urgent renewal, clarifies lawmaker)
The day Duterte was giving his speech, ABS-CBN held a briefing for its investors in Makati.
Spurns press freedom
Duterte spurned "press freedom" as a shield for ABS-CBN, saying the network's act of supposedly "stealing" from politicians like him means they had it coming.
"Press freedom, kayo 'yung number one magnanakaw ayaw niyo isauli, 'yung propiedad, press freeedom (Press freedom, you are the number one thief, you don't want to return, what belongs to us, press freedom)?" he said.
He said it was his "constitutional right" to express his anger against media.
"Us, how about our freedom? We have our freedom of expression to express our anger and that is also my constituional right. You are bullshit," he said.
After another slew of insults, he ended his speech abruptly by saying: "You want to know my sentiments? Fuck you. Salamat (Thank you)."
Lobbing insults and threats against media outfits has been a fixture in recent speeches of the President.
In particular, he has called out ABS-CBN and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. While initially he pointed out their supposedly biased news, he eventually began targeting their owners, the Lopez, Prieto, and Rufino families.
Both media outfits have denied allegations of unfair or inaccurate news. – Rappler.com
Following the expiry of broadcast corporation 's legislative franchise, the Philippine government issued a cease and desist order dated yesterday, forcing the shut-down of broadcasting operations by the company. Later in the evening, the network signed off and went off-air. The last time the Philippine government ordered the network to shut down was during the martial law imposed by former Philippine President  back in 1972.
ABS-CBN logo.
Republic Act No. 3846, also known as the "Radio Control Law", states "no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines." Since ABS-CBN's legislative franchise, Republic Act No. 7966, expired on Monday, the network no longer had a valid franchise to continue airing their programs. The  (NTC) issued a cease and desist order to the network yesterday, and in compliance, the network signed off that night.

The network tried to renew their franchise as early as July 2019, but all eleven of the legislative bills filed have been stuck in . The franchise of ABS-CBN expired on Monday, the same day Congress reconvened after their  Break, which began on March 13. Though the NTC is allowed to provide the network a provisional license while its application to the Congress is still being decided upon, the commission refused to provide the network with said license. A number of  condemned the act of the NTC, citing the move as a "grave abuse of governmental power" and "contrary to law".

ABS-CBN Corporation is the largest television and radio broadcasting company in the Philippines with over 42 television stations, 10 digital channels, and 18 FM and five AM radio stations, and has been broadcasting for over 65 years. Philippine President  threatened the network's franchise renewal before, after the network didn't carry some of his campaign commercials, which they've said was due to a lack of airtime, and he accused the network of "swindling". Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a  petition on February 10, accusing the network of violating its franchise. After a Senate hearing was conducted on February 24, the Senate did not find the network had breached laws, nor its franchise terms. ABS-CBN CEO  said refunds for Duterte's unaired political ads were offered, of which some were not accepted by his campaign. Katigbak apologized to Duterte during the hearing, which the President accepted according to a statement by the Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The network's news channel, ABS-CBN News Channel, is still on air, as the network claims the cease and desist order did not cover their news channel's franchise.