By Nimfa Estrellado StraigthTalk May 12, 2020 My mind can not understand what happened to ABS-CBN Corporation (ABS-CBN). I can not acc...
StraigthTalk
May 12, 2020
My mind can not understand what happened to ABS-CBN Corporation (ABS-CBN). I can not accept the fact that this network station, which has served the Filipino people for decades, has shut down because of the selfishness and greed of those in power.
Should not use the expression 'this is the rule' by the way. Congress is given the power of law to grant franchises and the Supreme Court is given the right to interpret the law in case of dispute. I'm not a lawyer but I've got common sense. While the matter is in two branches of government, legislative and judiciary, the executive unexpectedly intervened to issue a cease and desist order through National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
The reason for the shutdown was the expiry of the franchise and the congress question to refuse a renewal that ABS-CBN had previously sought to renew on many occasions, as far as 2016. Hence the NTC's decision to shut down ABS-CBN, as their contract ended May 5, 2020.
News spread rapidly as the shutdown left 11,000 people jobless at ABS-CBN. And this rapidly gained national attention and debates for and against the shutdown with the Philippines' political climate and the continuing battle of ABS-CBN vs President Rodrigo "Rody" Roa Duterte.
Everything that happened during the global pandemic coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
What happened to ABS-CBN can happen to any media company.
ABS-CBN and their celebrities are mostly the big taxpayers in this nation but then NTC pushing the shutdown amidst pandemic seriously? Yes, you followed according to the the Law but you never considerate at all? What a desperate move.
Non-renewal of ABS-CBN franchise is a political issue that is not subject to judicial review.
They put to sleep ABS-CBN but they wake up the sleeping masses.
I will presume that this is going to be taken to a hearing and ABS-CBN is going to win but are going to be pushed into a battle they will lose. With regards to the other allegations that can occur while all is in court.
As someone who wanted just freedom to publish, what happened to ABS-CBN is as tragic as it is becoming. Shutting down a credible news outlet not only silences the journalists but also deafens the people from hearing the truth.
If you wish to understand what happened to ABS-CBN and why we consider this as an attack on press freedom, there are few articles on the web right now containing useful facts that you can check.
Kindly read the articles. If you're still unsure of the facts presented, verify it yourself. Connect the dots.
To those who claim there is the internet to get the news, you are privileged to have it. There are many places in the country without internet and even electricity. In Samar, Leyte and elsewhere in Visayas and Mindanao, especially in the highlands, only ABS-CBN is the signal to get there. ABS-CBN's audience share is between 70% and 80% in Visayas and Mindanao. All reviews of these surveys can prove that.
For those without electricity, their only use is a car battery to watch the TV. They are now disconnected to a worldwide connection!
Now in the middle of the pandemic and when the congress is in recess, the closure was directed by the National Telecommunications Commission, which is under the branch of the government, headed by the President.
Summarizing. If Congress isn't going to renew the ABS-CBN franchise, it's the end of the network and the president wins and gets what he wants personally, curtailing the freedom of the press. This is apart from being influenced by the more than 11,000 workers and their families, and the feelings of the people who appreciate the networks system and public service.
Whenever I hear how some officials justify what happened to ABS-CBN, they sound more like excuses than rational explanations.
There's nothing funny with what happened to ABS-CBN. Thousands of employees lost their jobs in the middle of a pandemic. You're sick in the head if you find it funny to see other people in great pain. We are all having a hard time for goodness sake! I wish people will be sensitive enough.
Remember what happened to the last dictator who had ABS-CBN shutdown? There was no social media then as there is now.
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