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- He added that he is also saddened by such an outcome but said that it was the “decision of the Filipino people” to let the network remain closed.
- He then said that employees can just apply for assistance from the government.
Netizens wasted no time calling out Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque after he claimed that the Palace had “maintained a neutral stance on the issue” regarding media giant ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
People pointed out that President Rodrigo Duterte has constantly expressed his disappointment in the Kapamilya network ever since he ran for the presidency.
Duterte has also said that he will make sure that the network’s franchise won’t be renewed after it expires.
“Mayroon po bang malaking kawalan dahil hindi nabigyan ng franchise ang ABS-CBN? Aaminin ko po, mayroon po,” he said in a press briefing.
“Noong ako po’y naging tagapagsalita, malaki rin po naging utang na loob ko dahil number 1 naman po talaga sa reach ang ABS-CBN. Nalulungkot po ako na dumating sa punto na hindi po na-renew ang prangkisa.”
Neutral my ass https://t.co/KWnpMnPmcf pic.twitter.com/eZG1E2az1t
— PAULO PHALANGE (@pauloftherose) July 11, 2020
https://twitter.com/lmns_07/status/1281672175481573376
Sinong niloloko ng sinungaling na ´to?#NoToABSCBNFranchiseDenial https://t.co/nNt8geo017 pic.twitter.com/Q33yM8iStV
— Kara_delRosario (@kara_delrosario) July 10, 2020
https://twitter.com/swangirlwannabe/status/1281601384790364160
From December 2019. It has been clear from the very beginning. #DefendPressFreedom https://t.co/NQGyY41Dz2 pic.twitter.com/FQ3PqM8qR2
— Jhesset Enano (@JhessetEnanoINQ) July 10, 2020
Roque also expressed that he is also “saddened” by the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchise to reject ABS-CBN’s application for another 25 years of operations.
Netizens then called him indecisive and a liar.
This shit can't decide ⤵️ https://t.co/vMCXxbhe3Q
— JuzEmi (@JuzEmi) July 13, 2020
This guy 👇🏼 is not only a 🤡 but a liar as well https://t.co/zxNI9JGdQq
— marquee (@mpbElRey) July 13, 2020
Wait. Hanapin ko lang mga press statements niyo condemning ABS CBN in the past. https://t.co/p7qLtI9haB
— #JunkTerrorLaw (@alphalter1) July 13, 2020
This was after Roque claimed that the rejection was a “decision of the Filipino people.” This was immediately called out by big personalities in the industry.
70 lawmakers in a committee are NOT the Filipino people. Please. https://t.co/9FQOMgTzSm
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 12, 2020
HAAAA? How do you sleep when you lie to us? 👋🏻 https://t.co/6W8yHkFFw6
— Chienna Filomeno (@ChieFilomeno) July 11, 2020
What do you call a person who can tell so many lies (without blinking), and not feel bad about it?
This guy is hopeless. https://t.co/o1lCyonz79
— Teta Limcangco (@teta_limcangco) July 12, 2020
A netizen then slammed Roque’s statement by showing a graph from the recent SWS survey saying that those who wish for ABS-CBN’s franchise to be renewed is larger than those who wish it won’t.
Not according to the latest SWS survey. https://t.co/nX2vvLITQj pic.twitter.com/CFZHvuHRYW
— L⭕️VE (@iamdexter143) July 12, 2020
“Huwag po kayong mag-alala … nandiyan po ang ating Presidente,” the spokesperson then said as he tries to console the employees of ABS-CBN who are now on the brink of losing their jobs.
that’s like telling a stabbed person to seek help from a murderer. https://t.co/YYTtF1433z
— #OUSTDUTERTENOW (@jvnrey) July 13, 2020
Ha Ha Ha……Roque is joking again…..this guy's worse than Panelo. https://t.co/wqkJbbpMwz
— Mackie Cui (@MackieCui) July 13, 2020
Seriously? You can't even provide assistance to all the employees who lost their jobs because of the pandemic! We have millions of debt already and now an additional thousands of Filipinos lost their jobs because of the ABS-CBN shutdown! Do you think your words are reassuring? 🤦♀️ https://t.co/rYJJiHZXRp
— arleeeeeeena⁷ (@kwen_SpringDay) July 13, 2020
Where where where? A president who appears only at midnight? https://t.co/mcvCMF96Dp
— The Whistler (@renelaw24) July 13, 2020
https://twitter.com/pedestrianpaul/status/1282639535524859911
He added that the workers can file a loan from the government to build their own businesses.
