Property tycoon Manny Villar is either a lucky administration ally, a shrewd businessman or both after snaring the spoils of war between the Duterte administration and ABS-CBN network.
The former senator, a known ally of the President, managed to swoop in and obtain two broadcast frequencies of ABS-CBN network since its heartbreaking shutdown in 2020.
Si Manny lang ang sakalam! Villar takes over ABS-CBN frequencies with the backing of Malacañang, DOJ
So how did Villar score a major business win and expand his empire into media in just a short period?
Before ABS-CBN network’s shutdown, the President had already been furious with Lopez-owned broadcasting giant. He repeatedly threatened to block its franchise renewal over a campaign ad dispute, alleged biased reporting, and unpaid taxes.
While Duterte was ranting against ABS-CBN, Villar had been busy expanding his business empire, acquiring a cable firm and eventually a media entity even during the pandemic.
Using a newly acquired media firm, Villar was able to get Palace backing as well as regulatory consent to secure ABS-CBN’s cherished frequencies — analog Channel 2 and digital Channel 16. These were among the broadcast frequencies recalled by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) after ABS-CBN lost its franchise battle with Duterte’s allies in Congress.
From real estate magnate to media mogul, Manny Villar secures ABS-CBN frequencies; NTC allows test broadcast
Here’s a timeline of events starting from Duterte’s beef with ABS-CBN, the franchise controversy to Villar’s prized frequency haul.
March 2017
President Duterte started to unleash profanity-laced rebuke of ABS-CBN, accusing the network alongside Inquirer of being rude, corrupt, and unfair in its reporting. “You are full of shit,” Duterte told the owners of the two media entities during a speech in March 2017.
Duterte later accused the Lopez-owned media network of swindling and threatened to file charges for not airing his paid campaign advertisement during the 2016 campaign.
August 2018
Still angry with the network, President Duterte raised the specter of denying ABS-CBN network’s bid to renew its broadcasting franchise. Duterte, in a speech in Bukidnon on August 2018, said he would “never intervene” in the network’s franchise renewal bid but admitted he would not grant it if he had his way.
February 2019
President Duterte admitted in public that Villar had offered him a bag filled with cash to consider running for president in 2016. He admitted that Villar’s support was among the key factors that convinced him to pursue the presidency. He offered to return the favor by supporting Villar if he ever runs for president again.
March 2019
The Advanced Media Broadcasting System Inc. (AMBS), owned by the Vera family, can operate for another 25 years after securing a fresh congressional franchise. President Duterte let the franchise bill lapse into law on March 30, 2019.
Republic Act No. 11253 allows AMBS to construct, install, operate and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations in the Philippines. The company operates radio stations DWKX 103.5 K-Lite in Metro Manila and DXKM Magic 106.3 in General Santos.
December 2019
When he spoke before new government appointees in Malacañang in December 2019, Duterte renewed his threat to block the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. “If you are expecting na ma-renew ‘yan (franchise), I am sorry. I will see to it that you are out,” he said.
Duterte, in another speech, told ABS-CBN owners to just sell the company.
The bills seeking to extend the network’s franchise remained pending in the House committee on franchise. ABS-CBN network’s franchise, approved through RA 7966, was set to expire on May 4, 2020.
February 2020
In a Senate hearing on the network’s franchise bid, ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologized to the President over the airing of a controversial campaign ad that supposedly offended him. The 30-second spot, paid for by former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV, showed several kids questioning the qualities of then Davao City mayor to become the country’s next president. Duterte earlier cried foul why ABS-CBN did not air his paid ad while aired others including the hostile ad against him.
President Duterte later accepted Katigbak’s apology but left to Congress to decide on the network’s franchise renewal.
May 2020
ABS-CBN was forced to go off the air after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease-and-desist order against the media giant. It free radio and television stations, including Channel 2 and DZMM, halted broadcasting operations.
ABS-CBN big boss Carlo Katigbak released a video message asserting the network complied with the requirements for the renewal of its legislative franchise and did not violate any laws.
July 2020
Seventy lawmakers voted to deny ABS-CBN a fresh broadcasting franchise following Duterte’s angry rants at the network. Only 11 members of a House franchise panel backed the franchise renewal of the media company.
Days after the ABS-CBN shutdown, President Duterte claimed that he could die happy after dismantling the oligarchy without declaring martial law.
In the same month, the Prime Asset Ventures Inc. owned by the Villar group launched its telecommunications subsidiary, Streamtech Systems Technologies, Inc. to provide “high quality” internet services. The company took over Planet Cable, Inc. that offers cable TV services, cable-Internet, and digital video broadcast.
Paolo Villar, son of former Senator Manny Villar, is owner and founder of PAVI.
February 2021
President Duterte vowed to prevent ABS-CBN from using TV and radio frequencies even if it gets a fresh franchise from Congress. He threatened to block the operations alleging the company had unpaid taxes.
Sept 2021
The owners of AMBS moved to sell the company to Villar’s Planet Cable after the pandemic weakened business operations. The franchise was eventually transferred to the Villar firm with consent of lawmakers.
December 2021
The Department of Justice issued a legal opinion on allocating unused and available broadcast frequencies. The Office of the Executive Secretary did not pose any objection to assign frequency to qualified entities.
January 2022
The Bilyonaryo, a business news website, first reported that Villar has secured two broadcast frequencies previously held by ABS-CBN network, using his new media firm.
The National Telecommunications Commission gave provisional authority to AMBS to install, operate and maintain digital tv broadcasting system in Metro Manila and Mega Manila using Channel 16. The company applied for digital tv frequency back in October 2006. The NTC order was issued on January 6, 2022.
The telco regulator also gave a temporary permit to AMBS to test broadcast using Channel 2, the analog channel of Channel 16. In the permit dated January 6, the frequency assignment will be held until the analog shut-off in 2023.
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The NTC later confirmed the Bilyonaryo report about the frequency haul made by the Villar company.
The latest government move was backed by a legal opinion made by the Department of Justice.
Una sa pila! NTC confirms Manny Villar’s takeover of ABS-CBN’s frequencies
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