Rock and a Hard Place
On the night of May 5, 2020, ABS-CBN, a broadcasting giant in the Philippines, was forced to sign off the air following the expiration of its congressional franchise. This marks the first instance a prime network of news and entertainment has met such a fate during the Duterte administration, stripping more than 11,000 employees of their jobs and putting a stop to many Filipinos’ source of news and entertainment.
Indeed, the mentioned network has found itself pressed against a wall they wouldn’t escape from any time soon.
Amid the uproar sparked by the arrestment of the ABS-CBN franchise, a number of factors have been in play since the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued an order detailing the media network’s closure. Perhaps the driving agent in the whole equation is the sole authority of the Congress over the bid seeking the permit renewal of the broadcasting company; the same Congress whose lower house lawmakers are in league with President Rodrigo Duterte.
Despite of the government’s coverage on the Duterte Administration’s War on Drugs and its controversy, the Philippine leader’s ire for ABS-CBN foregoes even that. Dating back to 2016 when Duterte accused the network of refusing to air his political ad campaigns, he has held quite a grudge for the company since. Duterte may have accepted an official apology from ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak, but the debacle was far from over.
While Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra claimed the government can grant ABS-CBN authority to continue operating, the snafu reemerged years later when Jose Calida, the Philippines’ top lawyer. made a statement of Sunday. Calida threatened to press charges of graft towards the NTC if they give the network so much as a temporary permit. The NTC’s officials claim they have no choice but to abide by the law.
Another element that has creeped its way into ABS-CBN’s signing off is are the allegations that have been made against the broadcasting company. The Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines (FICTAP) insisted on a Senate hearing that ABS-CBN has been handling its TV Plus service “with no permits”, further claiming FICTAP employees have been losing their businesses. This broadcasting network is taking damage on two sides, both proving to be an obstacle should they decide to pursue an amendment.
Filipino citizens frown upon the leading network’s halt of operations, especially evident on how the issue has prompted domestic and international debate. However, there are just as much points to consider when it comes to ABS-CBN and its untimely closure. In spite of the unfortunate position, it seems ABS-CBN still has something to prove on their side of the issue.
In its 25 years of existence, ABS-CBN has made use of the same frequency in their channels, which marks the renewal of their permit as a renewal of this frequency. This suggests that the FICTAP’s allegations are crude, brought on by the fact that the term “channel” is never mentioned in Republic Act №7966 in granting the corporation’s franchise. This law details only the frequency and never the channel.
https://www.chanrobles.com/republicacts/republicactno7966.html#.XrGpXagzbHq
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has also expressed its stand on the side of ABS-CBN, believing that the television network can be granted a provisional authority to operate whilst the renewal of its legislative franchise remains in pending. Guevarra offered his assurance as franchise expired on May 4th.
Of course, the masses have made their thoughts clear on this matter, calling the force shutdown of ABS-CBN “an attack on press freedom.” The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines said the cease and desist order threatens press freedom in a time when the public is in need of the press the most, a statement made especially true during these times of crisis.
While the country goes through the motion of this affair, citizens, media organizations, the government, and ABS-CBN itself alike will have to lie in wait for what precedes the actions done. Right now, nothing can be said but the comments that pertain to the topic as the Philippines tries to sort out the issue.
Come what may, we will never know what follows until ABS-CBN is either freed from their faulty position, or forced to stay in it.
About the Author
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Joaquin Jerecho R. Ferolino is a Grade 9 Student of PSHS-CRC. He is a Section Editor of the The Thirteenth Scholars.
He has been recognized nationally and continues to participate in Journalism related competitions.
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Joaquin Realista Ferolino
