Despite the Bureau of Internal Revenue’s (BIR) conclusion that it had paid its taxes on time, the President claimed that ABS-CBN still owes the government billions of pesos in unpaid taxes.

President Duterte: “Yes, I agree that ABS-CBN has wonderful shows, but the problem is they are not paying their taxes.”

According to a report, the President stated during a campaign sortie in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on March 31 that ABS-CBN had been delinquent in paying its taxes, from having tax-free equipment imported to claiming just 4 hectares of land while it actually owns 40 hectares.

“As long as you will not settle your obligations with the government, you can never resume regular operations,” the President stated in Cebuano.

President Duterte has often stated that he does not carry a vengeance towards ABS-CBN, despite the fact that the media company neglected to show his campaign advertising during the 2016 presidential elections.

According to the President, he even decided to remain silent when the House of Representatives conducted repeated hearings on whether or not to award the media company a franchise because he did not want to look “vindictive.”

“Yes, I agree that ABS-CBN has wonderful shows, but the problem is they are not paying their taxes,” the President stated.

The President’s demand contradicts the tax bureau’s findings that the media giant has no tax default because it has been “regularly” paying taxes for several years.

Even though Eugenio Lopez III retired as chairman emeritus and director of ABS-CBN in September 2020, the President stated that it was insufficient to allow the media giant to resume regular operations.

The President further stated that he instructed the military and police to keep an eye on the media giant whenever he was no longer President or had died.

“They should pay their obligations otherwise there will be an upheaval. I will ask the NPA (New People’s Army) to bomb ABS-CBN,” the President stated. “When I’m gone and the problem is still there, it’s up to you what to do (with the company).” he added.