Nation | Duterte, willing to settle beef with ABS-CBN if..

© Toto Lozano/PPD President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the People's Day celebration in Socorro, Oriental Mindoro on Wednesday, March 29, 2017, underscoring the need for a friendly approach to addressing territorial disputes with China via GMANews

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday said he was willing to enter into a compromise deal with broadcast network ABS-CBN if the company would promote his bid for a shift to a federal form of government.

"Kung magtulong kayo diyan sa federal system campaign at gawain ninyong slogan also for the unity and to preserve this Republic, makipag-areglo ako," Duterte said in a speech at the PDP-Laban's Christmas Benefit Dinner for Marawi at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Pasay City.

"Just dedicate a portion of your time, your expensive and precious time on TV, help us promote federalism, only the good ones. But if you think that it is not into your system, fine," he added.

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ABS-CBN has been a frequent target of Duterte's rants, with the President accusing the network of accepting funds from him without airing his political advertisements.

He had also threatened to block the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise, which is set to expire in 2020.

In his speech, Duterte again hit the Lopez Holdings Corp., which controls ABS-CBN, for allegedly not paying its debt to the state-run Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).

"DBP, kayong mga negosyante, alam naman ninyo DBP pabangkarote, why? Because the Lopez Group of Companies and their debts were condoned, not paid," Duterte said.

"Kaya ‘wag ninyo ako bolahin mga ABS-CBN...you know he who comes to equity must have clean hands. When you talk of righteousness, be sure that you are right," he added.

Lopez Holdings Corp. earlier said it does not have any unpaid obligations to the DBP or other government financial institutions after Duterte announced on August 30 that he was going after holdings company over supposed debt to the state owned lender.