By Eugene Uy People's Voice July 19, 2020 Former President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the first shutdown of ABS-CBN during Mart...
People's Voice
July 19, 2020
Former President Ferdinand Marcos ordered the first shutdown of ABS-CBN during Martial Law.
In 2020, President Rodrigo Duterte declared that he will not renew its franchise because the network did not air his campaign ads during the 2016 election. History indeed repeats itself.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchise cited several violations such as the issuance of Philippine Depository Receipts to foreigners that allowed foreign ownership in ABS-CBN, the ABS-CBN TV Plus Box without the authorization of the National Telecommunications Commission, KBO pay-per-view, Tax Issues, Failure to Regularize Employees, Biased Reporting and Political Meddling.
There is no such thing as a perfect company, like the saying “whoever is clean, can cast the first stone”. Is this the issue? Or was it a coincidence that the administration of the President who ordered the burial of a dictator to the “Libingan ng mga Bayani” has denied its appeal for renewal? Well, it is not a direct order from the president himself but it happened during his term. Wow, that is classic.
During the franchise renewal hearing, 11 lawmakers voted “YES” to its renewal, and “NO” to shut down, they were the few aces who stood against 70 spades and 2 clubs who inhibited.
Was it a coincidence again? 30 computer operators walked out in 1986 because the counting is being manipulated. And now, 11 brave senators said “NO” to close down ABS-CBN, the frontier of the news industry during Martial Law.
Was it another coincidence that in 1986 the network compelled to air using a private network? And now, they are forced to air over the internet.
The 11 congressmen were the last few aces of ABS-CBN during the Committee hearing on Friday, July 10, 2020. Yet, their votes were overturned. Additionally, these aces were admirable because they have stood their ground and fought even if they knew that they were already defeated from the very beginning.
It goes without saying, “Stand up for the Truth, even if you stand-alone”.
Loopholes leaked, and the network apologized and admitted their mistakes. And these 11 aces of hearts were not alone because millions of Filipinos are waiting in silence which is waiting to break out. After all, a suppressed freedom might explode in time, known as the Freedom of Expression.
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