The biggest broadcasting network in the Philippines was forced to shut down last night to comply with National Telecommunications Commission’s cease-and-desist order after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned the NTC officials of a possible graft charge against them.
Various media groups showed solidarity with ABS-CBN. The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) firmly believes that the order that was issued by the NTC is clearly a case of political harassment.
“The move is clearly a case of political harassment against a pillar of Philippine democracy that employs thousands of Filipinos whose livelihoods are now at risk with the order.”
In addition to that, Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation (D&D) now expects that every media and news outlet can be politically harassed, based on what NTC just did to ABS-CBN.
“If the nation will allow an unjust ABS-CBN shutdown to stand, we should all expect increased media harassment, more widespread and more malevolent disinformation, worse obscenities committed against journalism in the name of ‘the law.'”
Malacañang Press Corps condemns NTC order against ABS-CBN as an attack on press freedom | via @Joseph_Morong pic.twitter.com/aHQ2TmBbBK
— GMA News (@gmanews) May 6, 2020
To issue a cease-and-desist order in the midst of a pandemic crisis, where a news outlet is much needed by the public is obviously nothing but an insensitive move.
PCP said: “We in the media have been foregoing our own safety to be able to cover the COVID-19 crisis so that valuable information can be disseminated. For the government to cancel the franchise of ABS-CBN in the middle of the crisis is a wanton disregard for the interest of the public.”
Kenneth Roth, an American attorney and Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, has stated that Duterte just followed the footsteps of Marcos 47 years ago.
47 years ago, Filipinos woke up to find only static signals on their TV and radio sets. The dictator Marcos had just declared martial law and shut down ABS-CBN. Yesterday, history repeated itself. Pres Duterte followed in Marcos's footsteps. https://t.co/wvl4deEVxS
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) May 6, 2020
Carlos Conde reiterated that shutting down the giant network was already planned as early as December.
Just so we're all on the same page: The shutdown of ABS-CBN was planned very early on.#NoToAbsCBNShutdown #DefendPressFreedom
Duterte to ABS-CBN: Next year, you're out https://t.co/T8l99RV0sy
— Facts Matter Philippines (@factsmatterPH) May 6, 2020
Though GMA and ABS-CBN compete to get higher TV ratings, GMA celebrities and News Anchors showed solidarity with ABS-CBN:
Michelle Ople
Isang mahigpit na yakap, at patuloy na taimtim na dasal para sa lahat ng mga Kapamilya. Dito ko natutunan kung paano tunay na maglingkod sa bayan: Buong puso, at walang hinihinging kapalit. Salamat, salamat. 😭🙏🏻
Kapit, Kapamilya. Laban! 🇵🇭#IStandWithABSCBN#NoToABSCBNShutdown pic.twitter.com/R1Qd2eS1H1
— Michelle Orosa-Ople (@michelleorosa) May 5, 2020
Atom Araullo
Sorrow today, courage and defiance tomorrow. #DefendPressFreedom
— Atom Araullo (@atomaraullo) May 5, 2020
Janine Gutierrez
https://twitter.com/janinegutierrez/status/1257624653465440258
Kara David
— Kara David (@karadavid) May 5, 2020
Others used red, green, and blue hearts the same colors as the giant network’s logo
♥️💚💙
— Maine Mendoza (@mainedcm) May 5, 2020
Prayers for everyone. ❤️💚💙
— Lovi Poe (@LoviPoe) May 5, 2020
Yakap at dasal ❤️💚💙
— JULIE ANNE SAN JOSE (@MyJaps) May 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zkokugVPU/?utm_source=ig_embed