Several Kapamilya stars held an online protest via Facebook Live last May 8, 2020 on the shutdown of ABS-CBN, which went off-air on Tuesday night following the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease-and-desist order.
Host Bianca Gonzalez called out netizens who were supporting ABS-CBN and also the bashers who were watching the #LabanKapamilya online protest just to troll.
“Nanood sa atin ngayon libo libong supporters ng ABS-CBN, maraming salamat po sa inyo pero Tito Boy, sa lahat ng ating kasama rito marami ring mga bashers na nanood, hello po!” Bianca said to co-host Boy Abunda.
Afterward, Bianca called out a basher who told ABS-CBN to just follow the law but did ABS-CBN violate the law?
Veteran actress Cherry Pie Picache couldn’t help but answer this redundant question.
“Sinabi na namin ‘di ba, tito Boy, nagkaroon na ng hearing, walang lumabag na batas, tsaka ‘di ba sinabi na nagbayad ng karampatang buwis.”
Despite being pissed, the actress encouraged the haters to read in their free time to avoid redundant questions.
“Paulit ulit? Mga walang gagawin mag basa basa po kayo para maliwanagan kayo.”
On the other hand, Michael de Mesa that some netizens despite being given the right facts won’t listen and will still believe that ABS-CBN should be off-air, “I would just say na pinipilit pa rin sila kahit ano pang sabihin mo, pinipilit mong linawin at ipatindi sa kanila na walang nilabag na batas ang ABS-CBN. Pilit parin nilang pinaniwalaan sa sarili nila.”
“Never waste your time to people who are committed to misunderstandings,” he added.
Bela Padilla pointed out the netizens’ argument on ending with “The Law is the Law” only.
“Lagi niyo pong sinasabi dura lex sed lex, ‘The Law is the Law the law may be harsh but it is the law’ Okay that is the end of your argument.”
Comparing the law with a spoon and a paintbrush for better comprehension, Bela explained what the ‘dura lex sed lex’ really stands for.
“The same way na pwede nating sabihin na ang kutsara ay kutsara, para saan ba ang kutsara? pag sinabi nating a paint brush is a paint brush, para saan ba ang paint brush? We are trying to paint a bigger picture, we are trying to produce something.”
And for what has happened to ABS-CBN, Bela believes that the argument that ‘The Law is the Law’ is invalid for it didn’t serve its purpose since ABS CBN’s shutdown is an injustice.
“So what does the law stands for? The law is suppose to give justice, to give out justice and the fact that on May 5, justice was not serve for 11,000 kapamilyas and the people who depend on ABS CBN for information, for entertainment. You took out our right to seek out justice.
“For me we do not end our argument on the law is the law, but what does the law do for us, the citizens and the taxpayers.”
Kim Atienza pointed out that the National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) gave other companies provisional authority but ABS-CBN was given instead, a Cease and desist order,
“Ang nangyari po napakaraming kompanya ang hindi pa nabibigyan ng prangkisa pero binigyan ng provisional authority, at hinde binigyan ng Cease and desist order at nang maipasa ng kongreso itong prangkisa?
“Tayo, sinabi ng kongreso binigay sa atin—binigay ni Speaker Alan Cayetano, na didinggin ito at gagawin ng kongreso ang kanilang trabaho at habang hinahanda nila Speaker Alan Cayetano, eto na binigyan tayo ng Cease and Desist order, ganon ang nangyari sa atin.”
On the digital franchise issue, Atienza also clarified that we only need one franchise,
“Isa lamang ang hinihingi nating prangkisa, itong para sa main channel natin at itong analog channel natin ng ABS-CBN.”
Citing National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) Republic Act No. 7966, the reason ABS CBN got the digital franchise is because of this bill.
“Paano natin nakuha ang digital franchise natin, ito’y isang batas ng NTC nung 2010 requiring all channels to go digital at napakagaling ng ABS CBN dahil tayo ang unang naging digital. Walang nilabag na batas.”
Concluding, #LabanKapamilya host Boy Abunda clarified that ABS-CBN didn’t violate any law, and even the first one to follow the law, “Madaling salita walang nilabag na batas pag galaw mula sa analog hanggang doon sa digital walang nilabag na batas, una ang ABS [CBN], sinunod ng ABS [CBN] ang batas.”
