Attack on all: Media

groups show solidarity

with ABS-CBN
following closure order
'The move is clearly a case of political harassment against a pillar of
Philippine democracy that employs thousands of Filipinos whose
livelihoods are now at risk with the order'

Raisa Serafica
@raisaserafica

Published 10:22 PM, May 05, 2020

Updated 10:26 PM, May 05, 2020

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INSIDE THE NEWSROOM. The staff of ABS-CBN watch as President and CEO Carlo
Katigbak makes a statement on the broadcast network shutdown by the National
Telecommunications Commission on May 5, 2020. Photo courtesy of Alcuin Papa

MANILA, Philippines – For many media groups, an attack on one is an

attack on all.

In a rare show of solidarity, several media groups rallied behind ABS-

CBN after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
ordered its closure on Tuesday, May 5, 2020.
The media giant that employs around 11,000 workers officially went
off-air at 7:52 pm on Tuesday.

The Photojournalists' Center of the Philippines (PCP), Foreign

Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP), and
the Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation (D&D) – composed
mostly of media practitioners – condemned the NTC order against ABS-
CBN.

“The order threatens press freedom at a time when the public needs
an unfettered press the most. As the Philippines reels from the fallout
of the coronavirus pandemic, ABS-CBN’s critical eye is needed now
more than ever to help inform the public,” FOCAP said in a statement.

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ABS-CBN shutdown a 'betrayal of 11,000 workers,' labor groups say

'To shut down a major media outfit and render the more than 11,000 workers jobless
at a time when the country is reeling from a pandemic is the height of callousness!'
says labor group Sentro

NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop operations

(2nd UPDATE) The National Telecommunications Commission says ABS-CBN cannot
continue operating since its franchise is already expired
According to PCP, for this closure to happen in the middle of a global
emergency like the coronavirus is nothing short of insensitive.
(READ: Press freedom takes a hit in PH during coronavirus pandemic)

“We in the media have been foregoing our own safety to be able to
cover the COVID-19 crisis so that valuable information can be
disseminated. For the government to cancel the franchise of ABS-CBN
in the middle of this crisis is a wanton disregard for the interest of the
public,” PCP said.

Not isolated case

The D&D pointed out that this move cannot be taken apart from the
“wider context of the Duterte administration’s war on the media.”

Aside from this, other news groups like Rappler, Inquirer, VERA Files,
and the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism have been on
the receiving end of various forms of attacks against the press. On
multiple occasions, President Rodrigo Duterte and other members of
his administration have also red-tagged alternative news groups.
(READ: ‘An act of betrayal,’ Rappler says on closure order vs ABS-
CBN)

“If the nation will allow an unjust ABS-CBN shutdown to stand, we

should all expect increased media harassment, more widespread and
more malevolent disinformation, worse obscenities committed against
journalism in the name of 'the law,'” D&D said.

“The move is clearly a case of political harassment against a pillar of

Philippine democracy that employs thousands of Filipinos whose
livelihoods are now at risk with the order,” FOCAP added.

The group urged Congress to independently act on pending measures

seeking to renew ABS-CBN's franchise. – Rappler.com