MANILA, Philippines – Following the shutdown of ABS-CBN’s two broadcast platforms, Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to put “the brakes on this madness” as thousands of jobs and a vital source of information are put at risk.
“We hope the Supreme Court puts on the brakes on this madness. Libu-libong mga empleyado ng stasyon ang mawawalan ng trabaho at milyon-milyon naman na manunuod ang mawawalan ng access sa impormasyon sa kahibangan na ito,” Pangilinan said in a statement.
(Thousands of employees would lose their jobs while millions of viewers would lose access to information because of this madness).
“Pilit na dinidiin ang panggigipit habang kapalpakan naman ang ipinapakita sa pagsugpo sa COVID at pagbigay ng ayuda sa wala nang makain,” he added.
(This harassment continues while the government is showing inefficiency in containing the pandemic and distributing aid for people affected by the health crisis.)
On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered ABS-CBN’s subsidiary, SkyCable Corp., to immediately stop its satellite TV service known as SkyDirect, which has over 1.5 million subscribers across the country.
The NTC issued a separate cease-and-desist order to ABS-CBN to immediately stop operating digital TV using Channel 43 on ABS-CBN TV Plus.
Prior to this, ABS-CBN was forced to go off the air in May after the NTC ordered the shutdown of its radio and television broadcast operations nationwide after the network’s franchise expired.
The House of Representatives is currently deliberating on ABS-CBN’s bid for a new 25-year franchise.
“Ang pagkaganid sa kapangyarihan walang hangganan liban na lang kung tutulan at pigilan ng ating mga korte o di kaya ng taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mariing pagtutol at pagkondena,” Pangilinan went on.
(This greed for power will continue to foster unless rejected or stopped by our courts or the Filipino people with strong opposition and condemnation).
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros expressed alarm over the new round of shutdowns ordered by the NTC.
“Nakakabahala. Sa panahon ng pandemiya, nililimitahan pa natin lalo ang access ng publiko sa mga mahahalagang impormasyon. Mas dinadagdagan din lalo natin ang mga Pilipinong mawawalan ng trabaho,” she added.
(Alarming. In this time of the pandemic, the access of the public to crucial information is being limited. More Filipinos will lose their jobs).
“Because we are in a crisis and because access to information is crucial, NTC should reconsider the said cease-and-desist order,” she added.
The lawmaker further underscored the need to “uphold freedom of the press, secure the rights and welfare of workers, and improve the public’s access to life-saving information” as the country reels from the coronavirus pandemic.
INQUIRER.net is contacting NTC for comment.
ABS-CBN stops programs on TVplus
Meanwhile, ABS-CBN issued a statement to announce that “it will stop its digital TV transmission of its TVplus channels CineMo, Yey, TeleRadyo, Jeepney TV, Asianovela Channel, and KBO in all other areas outside Metro Manila starting tonight, July 1, while we seek clarification on the scope of the cease and desist order.”
It added: “Viewers can still watch their favorite programs on CineMo, TeleRadyo, and Jeepney TV on SKYcable. TeleRadyo and Jeepney TV are also available in other cable TV operators nationwide.”
“We hope Congress approves our franchise and gives us the opportunity to return our service to all our TVplus viewers. We thank our viewers for their support and understanding,” the statement added. [ac]