On Wednesday, May 5, Kapamilya journalists look back at the closure of ABS-CBN, after a year.
The News and Current Affairs department of the Network was severely affected by the closure of the station in 2020. Amid the pandemic, and losing its franchise to operate, several Kapamilya journalists were retrenched to keep the company afloat along with almost 5,000 workers laid off.
The loss of its franchise also impacted the Network’s reach. Moreover, ABS-CBN’s abrupt off-air resulted in an information gap as the station had also the farthest reach among other broadcasting companies in the country.
Now that a year has passed since going without a license to operate, Kapamilya journos shared their sentiments about the company that they consider as their “second home”.
ABS-CBN News Channel anchor, Christian Esguerra reminisced the time when Pres. Rodrigo Duterte fulfilled his promise to shut down the largest network in the Philippines.
One year ago when Duterte made good on his promise to shut down ABS-CBN pic.twitter.com/BQglJmmeA0
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) May 5, 2021
For fellow journalist Tarra Quismundo, the pain of ABS-CBN losing its franchise will never be forgotten. However, she also emphasized that the Network, now stronger than ever, continues to adhere to its mandate—to be in the service of the Filipino.
https://twitter.com/TarraQuismundo/status/1389832737096290309
ABS-CBN correspondent Ina Reformina paid her respect to the founder of the Network, Eugenio “Geny” Lopez by striving to “make all things possible” even if the Network has no franchise.
https://twitter.com/InaReformina/status/1389641527693959168
As Kapamilya reporter Anjo Bagaoisan looks back at the one-year anniversary of ABS-CBN’s shutdown, he also vows to continue serving the Filipino people.
Isang taon nang nagdilim at pinatahimik sa himpapawid, pero kaisa ng mga Kapamilyang hindi titigil sa paghahanap ng paraan para magbalita at maglingkod.
Magpapatuloy tayo, pero hindi makakalimot.#LabanKapamilya#IbalikAngABSCBNhttps://t.co/9jt4xi95xY pic.twitter.com/6Ojg859jJh
— Anjo Bagaoisan (@anjo_bagaoisan) May 5, 2021
Fellow journalist Mike Navallo shared ABS-CBN’s announcement that the station has already reached the one-year mark without a franchise. But without the privilege to go on free TV, Navallo used the hashtag #LabanKapamilya in support of the Network.
#LabanKapamilya https://t.co/us362KBf8X
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) May 4, 2021
ABS-CBN journalist Jing Castaneda, to commemorate the station’s shutdown, proudly vowed to continue serving the Filipino people as part of the Kapamilya Network.
Patuloy na Maglilingkod. Tayo ang ABS-CBN. #ABSCBNShutdown pic.twitter.com/QP93QzKs5j
— Jing Castañeda (@JINGCASTANEDA) May 4, 2021
Kapamilya broadcaster Chi Gonzales shared an anthology series in memory of the events that took place last year. Gonzales is positive that the Network will “gain it back and more” despite losing so much, particularly its right to air on free TV,
A multimedia anthology remembering what happened a year ago. We lost so much. But we will gain it back and more. #KapamilyaForever https://t.co/BpRL7Szbtj
— Chi Almario-Gonzalez (@chiagABS) May 5, 2021
ANC reporter Nikolo Baua shared Kapamilya news anchor Noli de Castro’s message that the Network will not be silenced in this attack against press freedom.
“Pigilan man ninyo ang aming prangkisa at pinatitigil ang ating broadcast, nangangako kami sa inyo, hindi kami mananahimik sa pag-atakeng ito sa aming demokrasya at sa malayang pamamahayag.”
Kabayan’s words before we were shut down. Hindi kami mananahimik. Hindi kami makakalimot. pic.twitter.com/JLgmzuHsvN
— Niko Baua (@Nikobaua) May 5, 2021
Last year, the Government, with the help of 70 congressmen, denied ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year license to operate. This followed after Duterte, as early as 2016, foreshadowed the closure.
Still, the current regime continues its attack on the Network. Duterte threatened that even if Congress would grant ABS-CBN a franchise, he will block it, through NTC (National Telecommunications Commission). This came after the president claimed that the station still has unpaid taxes to settle.
The Duterte administration continues to deny the Network its franchise, throwing baseless accusations. Earlier this year, Pres. Duterte again blasted the Network for his un-aired campaign ads during the 2016 election campaign.
But as early as 2020, the issue which Duterte continues to insist on was already clarified by ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak during a Senate hearing—airtime limit.
Duterte also brought back the issue about the alleged DBP loans of the Lopezes. But again, that matter was already resolved. DBP president and CEO Emmanuel Herbosa testified in a Senate hearing that it legal to sell bad loans even without a certificate of eligibility from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP).
