Senators Sonny Angara and Nancy Binay reacted to the recent Congress hearing on the ABS-CBN Franchise.
On Tuesday, June 30, Angara protested the issuance of cease and desist orders against two ABS-CBN subsidiaries while its free TV and radio channels are already on shutdown.
On Twitter, the lawmaker saw it as a double standard since other franchise renewal applicants are allowed to continue operating except for ABS-CBN.
“Grabe double standard dito—yung iba pinayagan mag-operate habang dinisiyunan ang prangkisa, ito tigok kaagad. ‘Di man lang inisip mga tao doon,”
Grabe double standard dito-yung iba pinayagan magoperate habang dinisiyunan ang prangkisa; ito tigok kaagad. Di man Lang inisip mga tao doon https://t.co/5FRZ1BNBdb
— Sonny Angara (@sonnyangara) June 30, 2020
He then empathized with ABS-CBN employees and artists who were suffering because of the closures.
“It’s painful to watch the government be the cause of so much suffering and hardship for thousands of ordinary, working Filipinos”
It's painful to watch the government be the cause of so much suffering and hardship for thousands of ordinary, working Filipinos ☹️ https://t.co/ZeEy4m8MEH
— Sonny Angara (@sonnyangara) June 30, 2020
On June 30, NTC ordered ABS-CBN’s cable service, Sky Cable Corp., to “immediately” end its SKY direct-to-home satellite transmission, which would impact households with SKY Direct satellite dishes.
On the other hand, Senator Nancy Binay could not help but compare ABS-CBN’s fate to that of and traditional jeepney’s.
“Bakit parang iisa ang guhit ng palad ng #ABSCBN at ng mga traditional #jeepney? Kunyari sinasama, pero di sinasali. Naririnig pero di pinakikinggan. Nakikita pero di tinitingnan.”
ABS-CBN ‘s broadcast franchise expired on May 4, while its license renewal bid is still pending before the House of Representatives. On May 5, it was told to stop broadcasting its free TV and radio channels.
Previously, television networks were permitted to continue operating following the expiration of their franchises until they were renewed. Inexplicably, ABS-CBN was not granted the same courtesy.
Bakit parang iisa ang guhit ng palad ng #ABSCBN at ng mga traditional #jeepney? Kunyari sinasama, pero di sinasali. Naririnig pero di pinakikinggan. Nakikita pero di tinitingnan.#traditionaljeepneys#ABSFranchiseHearing pic.twitter.com/MOSfd03Fot
— Senator Nancy Binay (@SenatorBinay) June 29, 2020
Senator Binay saw the similarities between the two where the government listens and recognizes them, but they do not take any action.
Recently, displaced jeepney drivers have been begging in the streets since they no longer had the means to feed themselves and their families. According to the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) Guidelines, jeepneys are still prohibited from returning to their routes.
Jeepney drivers are potentially the most seriously impacted by the COVID-19 crisis among public transport drivers. Just as Metro Manila remains under General Community Quarantine (GCQ), traditional jeepneys are still forbidden from operating.
