In the middle of a crisis when the country is in dire need of information due to the pandemic, ABS-CBN was forced to shut down after National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) reneged on its promise to issue a provisional authority to operate and instead sent a cease and desist order to the network.
Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin, Jr. sarcastically thanked the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the House of Representatives for the shutdown of the television giant.
“Everything everyone’s worked for so hard in government in the service of the Filipino and the first President who genuinely cares for the least Filipino flushed down the toilet with all the great work of the IATF in the pandemic swirling like turd.”
Everything everyone's worked for so hard in government in the service of the Filipino and the first President who genuinely cares for the least Filipino flushed down the toilet with all the great work of the IATF in the pandemic swirling like turd. Thank you NTC and fuck you! https://t.co/iwjjEQzwPn
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 6, 2020
“Thank you NTC and fuck you!”
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque has stated that President Rodrigo Duterte will honor any decision made by the NTC.
“I don’t think NTC will let any institution influence its decision. The official position of the President is: since the matter is pending with the NTC, we will respect the decision of the NTC. Pero sa ngayon po antayin muna natin ang desisyon ng NTC.”
Locsin said that the House of Representatives has sunk even lower due to its inability to act on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
AND THANK YOU HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. I COME FROM YOU WHERE I WAS PROUD TO SERVE BUT YOU NOW, YOU TODAY HAVE SUNK LOWER THAN IMAGINABLE—AND IN THIS PANDEMIC. THE RENEWAL OF A MEDIA FRANCHISE IS NOT WHETHER YOU OR ANYONE ELSE LIKES IT: IT IS FIRST PRIORITY IN A DEMOCRACY. https://t.co/w3dnL7ERl0
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 6, 2020
For him, NTC and Congress should be ashamed for depriving millions of Filipinos who are depending on information from the giant media network,
“I don’t watch TV much if at all but shutting down a major media outlet that has provided entertainment and comforting connection to tens of millions of OFWs and 80 million Filipinos, not to mention dependable news of real not made up events is a shame for NTC and Congress.”
I don't watch TV much if at all but shutting down a major media outlet that has provided entertainment and comforting connection to tens of millions of OFWs and 80 million Filipinos, not to mention dependable news of real not made up events is a shame for NTC and Congress. https://t.co/YFUeNQvOp0
— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 6, 2020
Teddy Boy Locsin Jr. is a lawyer, former TV host, and former congressman of Makati City who is now Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).
Since August 2019, there have been at least 11 bills introduced for the extension of the ABS-CBN franchise for another 25 years. The bills have been stalled in Congress.
