ABS-CBN Shutdown

In a report form Rappler written by Buan, Lian . , Solicitor General Jose Calida again pushed legal boundaries by filing on Monday, February 10, a quo warranto petition against network giant ABS-CBN. Calida himself filed the petition before the Supreme Court (SC) past 9 am on Monday.  Calida accused ABS-CBN of unpaid taxes. The accusation states of  ABS-CBN’s violation on Section 11, Article XVI of the Constitution. Calida hit ABS-CBN’s products like ABS-CBN TV Plus, KBO Channel, and calling them “pay-per-view channel without prior approval or permit from the National Telecommunications Commission.” President Rodrigo Duterte has also complained against ABS-CBN for not airing his political ads despite the payment sent during the campaign. By then, Duterte has sworn to stop the network’s operations. If the quo warranto succeeds, ABS-CBN could apply for a new franchise. In February 12,2020, ABS-CBN denied the allegations in a form of a tweet with evidence . In a report from Rappler written by Pangue, Jene-Anne, February 14, About 500 people gathered in Esguerra Street in Quezon City on Friday, February 14, for the Red Friday protest organized by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Altermidya Network, the Concerned Artists of the Philippines, Defend Jobs Philippines, and ABS-CBN employees and their supporters. ABS-CBN employees and their supporters held up signages to passing motorists, urging them to honk in support to press freedom. The organizers also out up a freedom wall where participants can write their message of solidarity with the network. ABS-CBN’s shutdown will affect to those in labor of the franchise and to the general public as well.

As a Filipino TV watcher, the shutdown of ABS-CBN will be a dark day for the fans/watchers and employees of the franchise. If the shutdown really happens, the livelihood of more than 11,000 workers is at stake. Viewers or watchers would be upset or disheartened. I say no to ABS-CBN shutdown for it has brought joy to millions of Filipinos and has given opportunities to thousands of workers. In a situation like this, you either fight for what is right or what is wrong but I say fight for what you love. Duterte’s willingness to shut down ABS-CBN is a threat to media freedom. It is a threat to freedom of speech. ABS-CBN has been a service for Filipinos who rely for news, entertainment, and public service. When ABS-CBN gets shut down for good, it will be a downfall for most Filipinos. There will be issues in labor and media freedom to be indicated. ABS-CBN has contributed so many as a center of news and entertainment. The largest broadcast network is one of the greatest contributors to Philippine media. If they take that away, they take away the love and the fun of the millions of Filipinos who are avid viewers and lovers of the channel.

There is no doubt that the shutdown will indeed affect many people especially the workers/laborers from the franchise. The general public would be saddened of this coming of this dark day. If you love something that has been with you throughout the years, you would understand that this is something you don’t want to be taken away. A broadcast network that has brought me news and entertainment. A channel that has brought me joy and love throughout my childhood is something I would stand with and I find worth defending. ABS-CBN has been a part of my childhood. If I were other people, I would acknowledge my opponents or my rivals as empathy. If Solicitor General Jose Calida and President Rodrigo Duterte would have sympathy to those affected, maybe by then this issue would not arise but for them they stand for what’s right but not fair to others. This is quite a risky and difficult decision they have to face with.