After NTC orders ABS-CBN ops to stop, #NotoABSCBNShutDown tops PH Twitter trend
MANILA, Philippines — Netizens rallied behind media giant ABS-CBN after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Tuesday released a cease and desist order against the network.
On Twitter, the hashtags #NotoABSCBNShutDown, #DefendPressFreedom and the ABS-CBN became the top three trending topics on Twitter in the Philippines.
“Why is a network that has done so much for filipinos, providing 11k+ jobs, info (especially in this pandemic), and entertainment being shut down.. but POGO disregards our country’s laws AND YET is still allowed to run free & continue operations?” Youtube vlogger Janina Vela shared her opinion on the matter.
why is a network that has done so much for filipinos, providing 11k+ jobs, info (esp in this pandemic), and entertainment being shut down.. but POGO disregards our country’s laws AND YET is still allowed to run free & continue operations? #NoToABSCBNShutDown
— Janina Vela (@janinavela) May 5, 2020
Vela was referring to the government’s decision to let Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators (Pogos) to partially resume operations despite the enhanced community quarantine period.
For human rights activist and political blogger Francis “Frank” Baraan IV, he believes that the Duterte government should not shut down the TV network during this time.
Duterte Gov't SHOULD NOT shut down PH's premier TV network during these times.
We need ABS-CBN & ALL mainstream news media to swiftly disseminate much-needed, timely public health info on COVID19 pandemic.
THIS ISN'T THE TIME TO STIFLE FREEDOM OF THE PRESS!#NoToABSCBNShutDown https://t.co/UrhFWKuBRK
— Francis Baraan IV (@MrFrankBaraan) May 5, 2020
“We need ABS-CBN & ALL mainstream news media to swiftly disseminate much-needed, timely public health info on COVID19 pandemic,” he said.
In the middle of a pandemic where avenues for proper information dissemination could literally save lives, it really doesn't make sense to silence the media. It's not worth your personal conflicts.
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) May 5, 2020
“In the middle of a pandemic where avenues for proper information dissemination could literally save lives, it really doesn’t make sense to silence the media. It’s not worth your personal conflicts,” Twitter influencer and Philippine General Hospital and Internal Medicine resident Dr. Jai Cabajar shared his two cents on the matter.
People who are enjoying about the shutdown of Abs-Cbn don't really know how this network helped millions of filipino through the years and specially now that we are facing this pandemic. #NoToABSCBNShutDown
— Gela🍑 (@Minsanbalimbing) May 5, 2020
Meanwhile, Gela (@MinsanBalimbing) took a hit at detractors who support the network’s shutdown: “People who are enjoying about the shutdown of Abs-Cbn don’t really know how this network helped millions of filipino through the years and specially now that we are facing this pandemic.
The NTC handed down the order against the media giant to shut down all its television and radio broadcasting stations after its legislative franchise expired on Monday, May 4.
The commission cited Republic Act No. 3846, where “no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines.”
Eleven bills seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise, meanwhile, remain pending before the House committee on legislative franchises.
