In an interview with Jessica Soho, the President of the Federation of International Cable TV Associates of the Philippines (FITCAP) Estrellita Juliano-Tamano enumerated the alleged mistakes and violations committed by the ABS-CBN which led the giant network to receive a cease and desist order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
Based on Tamano’s statement, ABS-CBN presented documents for renewal which were not similar to the documents presented way back in 1995, she also accused the network of including “channels” term on its application which clearly for them is a direct violation of “one franchise, one channel” rule.
Furthermore, the FICTAP has been trying to oppose the ABS-CBN franchise renewal since 2014 for the alleged violations and anomalies she pointed out during the interview with Soho.
Tamano said: “Inaasahan namin, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 inayos na nila yung problema nay un. Subalit, hindi nila inayos. Pareho pa rin po yung nai-file nila sa Kongreso.. Hindi nila binabago. Malayong-malayo po. Sinabi po namin na kung yung original na franchise ng ABS-CBN noong 1995, just a pure renewal, hindi po kami mag o-object, hindi kami mag o-oppose… Kapag yung original, hindi po kami mag o-oppose. Bagkos, tutulungan pa namin ang ABS-CBN.”
Meanwhile, former Born To Be Wild host Kiko Rustia said that wrong information has been stated on national TV during the interview of Soho with FICTAP President Tamano. And the interview last night sounded one-sided.
Kiko said: “I’m sorry @gmanetwork, my home network, but last night’s report did sound one-sided. If fair journalism was the goal, you should have interviewed someone without vested interest on either side.
Or at least, with your FICTAP interview, fairly extend the same venue to ABS-CBN.”
Im sorry @gmanetwork, my home network, but last night’s report did sound one sided.
If fair journalism was the goal, you should have interviewed someone without vested interest on either side.
Or at least, with your FICTAP interview, fairly extended the same venue to ABSCBN. https://t.co/NjOJpAA04j
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) May 6, 2020
And please. Dont accuse me of not being ‘kapuso’ or walang utang ng loob sa GMA. Because what Im doing is exactly what PUSO is all about. Ang laban na to eh laban para sa libo-libong mga kapatid natin sa industria na nawalan ng job security at maaapektuhan ang mental health.
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) May 7, 2020
I am and will always be kapuso. But that shouldnt mean hindi ko ipaglalaban ang mga kapatid ko sa industria sa ABSCBN, sa TV5, at oo pati PTV4 kung sila ay naaargabyado at nasa tama. Lalo na yung mga nasa likod ng camera at walang boses ipaglaban ang sarili nila.
— kiko rustia (@kikorustia) May 7, 2020
As one of the veteran broadcast journalists of ABS-CBN, Karen Davila debunked the statement of FICTAP President Tamano.
Contrary to Tamano’s statement that ABS-CBN did nothing to fix the error, there were bills filed seeking for the network’s franchise renewal in 2016 and 2019 in the Congress. However, Congress did not act on it.
For charging every user with Php30.00 to watch on KBO, DOJ Secretary reiterated that pay-per-view activities are not a violation. Thus, the existing franchise has enabled ABS-CBN to operate for commercial purposes.
Ano po ba katotohanan sa mga akusasyon ng FICTAP laban sa ABSCBN? Basahin po: pic.twitter.com/AO2u5oUvKL
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) May 6, 2020
In charging Php2,500 per viewer for the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, NTC only issued a cease and desist order right after the ABS-CBN had already sold the Pacquiao fight. ABS-CBN’s service was able to reach areas FICTAP cable operators could not.
