'NO REASON FOR OUR PUBLIC SERVICE TO END,' SAYS ABS-CBN PRESIDENT AND CEO CARLO KATIGBAKMANILA - ABS-CBN Corp. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbaksaid Thursday the country's largest broadcast network will be given a chance"in the coming days" to answer allegations and clarify issues, amid threatsand attempts to shut it down."Mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataong linawin ang mga isyu tungkol sa amingprangkisa. Wala po kaming nakikitang dahilan para hindi magtuloy angpaglilingkod ng ating ABS-CBN (We will be given a chance to clear issuesregarding our franchise. We don't see any reason to stop ABS-CBN'sservice)," Katigbak said in a televised statement."Gayun pa man, kami ay handang sumunod sa anumang proseso na dapat pagdaananayon sa batas."ABS-CBN has been faithfully serving Filipinos for 65 years, he added."Sa lahat po ng aming pinaglilingkuran, isang karangalan po na kami'y nagingbahagi ng inyong tahanan at ng inyong pamilya. Sana po ang aming mgaprograma ay nagbibigay ng impormasyon, saya, pag-asa at inspirasyon sa inyo.Sana po nakatulong sa inyo ang mga serbisyo publiko ng ABS-CBN Foundationtulad ng Bantay Bata at Sagip Kapamilya," Katigbak said.He said ABS-CBN had its own share of faults."Nagkakamali din po kami at handa po naming itama ang anumang pagkukulang.Kasama ito sa proseso ng pagiging isang mas matatag na kumpanya."Katigbak said the future of ABS-CBN "is in the hands" of the members ofCongress."Nagtitiwala po kami sa sinasabi ninyo na mabibigyan kami ng pagkakataongsagutin ang mga katanungan ng mga mamamayan. Dinarasal din namin na makitaninyo ang mga kabutihang naidulot ng ABS-CBN sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,"he said.Katigbak also sent his gratitude to employees of ABS-CBN and its supporters.CHA-CHA WILL HAVE TO WAIT: SPEAKER CAYETANOMoves to amend the 1987 Constitution will have to wait as there are morepressing matters that need attention from lawmakers, Speaker Alan PeterCayetano said Thursday.Speaking to reporters in Zambales, Cayetano said the Lower House postponeddeliberations on Charter change to a later date so that congressmen couldtackle other matters such as the coronavirus scare, termination of thevisiting forces agreement and the renewal of ABS-CBN's franchise."Pinostpone namin kasi nag-usap-usap po kami, napakaraming kontrobersyal nasabay-sabay. Mahirap po magkaroon ng sober o malamig na ulo ng discussionskung sabay-sabay ‘yung maiinit. Nandiyan ang ABS-CBN, nandiyan po ang VFA,nandiyan po ‘yung usapan sa COVID-19—kung safe na ba o hindi, kung saan pamagba-ban o hindi. Tapos nandiyan pa ho ‘yung, kahapon, sa hearing po saKongreso, P100 bilyon daw ang utang ng ibang mga power generators sa atingbansa. Nandiyan din ang usapin sa tubig na hindi pa natatapos," he said.Postponing Charter change deliberations, he said, would also give him moretime to find out how acceptable Charter change is to congressmen.“I want to get things done by consensus. Hindi ako naniniwalang ipe-pressuremo ‘yung isang tao, ‘yung isang chamber, maipapasa ‘yan, kasi iba ngayon e.Style ng mga bata ngayon, mga bata ngayon, ‘pag pinressure mo, lalong ayaw,e. So, kung mape-persuade naman natin, rather than mape-pressure natin, masmabuti," he said.DUTERTE SACKS BI EXECS IN ‘PASTILLAS’ SCHEME BUT HE ‘LOVES’ BI’S MORENTEMANILA — President Duterte yesterday ordered the relief and investigation of19 officials and personnel of the Bureau of Immigration (BI) who areinvolved in the “pastillas” racket, which facilitates the entry of Chinesetourists who later work in Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs) inexchange for grease money.Duterte, however, said BI chief Jaime Morente would not be sacked.“Yesterday, I terminated all sa kay Morente,” Duterte said last night inDavao City. “Morente, I love him because he became my police chief here. Heis kind.”Duterte stressed that he remains steadfast in his campaign againstcorruption.At Malacañang, presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo announced the sackingof the BI personnel as the Senate started yesterday its inquiry into themoney-making scheme.Duterte, a former lawyer and public prosecutor, acted on the matter after“he receivedreports and he found prima facie or probable cause,” according to Panelo.“The President considers this anomaly, which some define as the pastillasscheme, as a grave form of corruption which cannot be countenanced by thegovernment,” Panelo said.“Somebody reported the matter to (the President), complained and apparently,the proof constitutes probable cause, that’s why they were sacked,” headded.NLEX'S JERICHO CRUZ TO REPRESENT GUAM IN FIBA ASIA CUP QUALIFIERSMANILA — NLEX Road Warrior Jericho Cruz will be suiting up for Guam in thefirst window of the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers.After more than 10 years since his last stint with the national team, Cruzis back in the Northern Marina Island lineup, according to FIBA's officialwebsite.Guam will face New Zealand at home in their lone game of the first window onSunday, February 23. Their road game against Hong Kong was postponed due tothe novel coronavirus scare.Former NLEX import Curtis Washington is also included in the Guam nationalteam.Guam is currently rated 73rd in the FIBA world rankings.FIBA ASIA CUP: KOREA THUMPS INDONESIA TO OPEN QUALIFIERSNakhyeon Kim finished with 14 points to lead 5 players in double-digitscoring, and South Korea torched the net from long distance to downIndonesia 109-76 in the opening day of the 2021 FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers onThursday.After trailing 27-18 late in the first quarter at Britama Arena, SportmallKelapa Gading in Jakarta, the Koreans (1-0) went on a 31-5 run across thefirst and second quarters to put away coach Rajko Toromon and co. for good.Indonesia (0-1) was limited to just two field goals in the second quarter.Small forward Arki Dikania Wisnu scored on a layup to put Indonesia up 27-18less than a minute left in the first quarter for their biggest lead of thegame, before the hosts lost steam.Shooting guard Abraham Damar Grahita led Toroman's side with 25 pointsOverall, Korea made 17-of-34 3-point attempts and went 38 of 72 (52.8%) fromthe field.Indonesia stays at home in its next Group A game, Feb. 23, Sunday, as ittakes on Gilas Pilipinas.In other games, New Zealand upset defending champion Australia 108-98 inGroup C play.The Kiwis settled for fourth place in 2017 after losing the bronze-medalgame to Korea.Iran, the 2017 losing finalist, downed Syria 94-48 in a clash of Group Esides.