MANILA, Philippines — A labor group sees President Duterte’s threats against water companies and television network ABS-CBN as part of a supposed plan to favor his cronies and build a financial base for his political coalition in the 2022 elections. “The administration is attacking the owners of Maynilad, Manila Water, ABS-CBN and others. Duterte’s intention is not to empower the workers or the state vis-à-vis these oligarchs, but only to replace them with his own set of oligarchs,” National Confederation of Labor chairman Ernie Arellano said in a statement yesterday. Duterte had earlier said he was not in favor of renewing the television network’s franchise. He even advised ABS-CBN owners to just sell the network, whose license is set to expire in March.

Source: Philippine Star January 01, 2020 16:00 UTC