ABS-CBN eventually had to withdraw these franchise renewal initiatives due to time constraints. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has attributed his objection to the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN to an election ad controversy during the campaign leading up to the 2016 Philippine presidential election. He said the network refused to air his 2016 presidential campaign ads and favored the negative political ads paid by then-vice presidential candidate Antonio Trillanes critical of his remarks on the campaign trail. The network's president and CEO Carlo Katigbak has apologized to President Duterte for not airing his political advertisements during his 2016 polls. President Duterte has accepted the apology, leaving the franchise's renewal to the Congress. ABS-CBN also offered to return the money spent for these advertisements, which Duterte declined, stating that the money should be donated to a charity instead. Meanwhile, Commission on Elections spokesperson James Jimenez defended the controversial ad as being well within Election Law, under "Partisan Political Activity." Throughout his term, which coincides with the 17th and 18th Congress, President Duterte publicly reiterated that he will oppose the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. Opposition lawmakers as well as labor groups objected to Duterte's stand on ABS-CBN as the franchise non-renewal will compromise the employees of the network; stating that the blocking of the franchise renewal had no merit. Opposition groups have stated their opinions that the non-renewal of the franchise violates press freedom. The President later changed his stance after the network's apology, stating that he will not interfere with the franchise renewal in the Congress. However, the President did not say whether he will veto the bill or not. In November 2016, Nueva Ecija Representative Micaela Violago filed House Bill 4349 in the 17th Congress to renew the network's franchise. The 17th Congress adjourned sine die with the bill never getting out of committee. During the 18th Congress of the Philippines, at least 12 house representatives and 2 senators filed their own versions for a new franchise of the network. House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano made assurances that the Congress will tackle the franchise with fairness. On January 6, 2020, Albay representative Edcel Lagman filed House Resolution 639, urging the House Committee on Legislative Franchises for its immediate action on the several bills lodged to the committee. At least 91 other representatives signed the resolution. On February 24, 2020, the Congress finally made its decision to tackle their franchise renewal. During a Senate hearing on the same day, public services panel chair Grace Poe stated they were to tackle ABS-CBN's compliance with the terms and conditions of its franchise.