Duterte’s billionaire ally Manuel Villar takes over TV channels from ABS-CBN
- Duterte had accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and alleged it had unpaid taxes, which the broadcaster has denied
- The National Union of Journalists is concerned about ‘the concentration of power in a corporate media … dominated by conglomerates and political clans’
A company owned by Philippine billionaire Manuel Villar’s family won two channels previously assigned to ABS-CBN Corp, a former media giant that had come under fire by President Rodrigo Duterte in the past.
The National Telecommunications Commission said Advanced Media Broadcasting System, Inc now has the rights to use Channel 2, which is the analogue pair of digital Channel 16. Channel 2 was a primary news source for Filipinos in remote areas.
Duterte had accused ABS-CBN of biased reporting and alleged it had unpaid taxes, which the broadcaster has denied.
The decision to transfer the channels was backed by the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Justice and Duterte’s office, the NTC said in a statement.
Villar, a former lawmaker and one-time presidential contender, has built an empire in property and retailing. His son, Mark, ran the Department of Public Works and Highways for Duterte until recently when he quit to seek a senate seat in May. Cynthia Villar, wife of Manuel, is an incumbent Senator.
