A Gnawing Thought: ABS-CBN Controversy

A long-running controversy, a national dispute. 

 The ABS-CBN franchise renewal has been on the face of newspapers and of online news outlets, with several theories of why it had been shut down or why there was an issue, to begin with. Many had speculated it to be due to misunderstandings between current President Rodrigo Duterte and the broadcasting centre, some say it is due to ABS-CBN’s multitude of violations such as labour breaches, “pay-per-view” channels without approval from NTC, bias news reporting and others. 

The main argument of those who want to restrain the renewal of the franchise is ABS-CBN’s tax evasion schemes and ownership and management by foreigners. The ones who want it renewed is because they want to uphold the freedom of the press and expression as well as to support the 11,000 workers who were rendered unemployed due to its sudden closure. 

News journals and articles attest to ABS-CBN’s innocence, with GMA News and CNN Philippines backing up the argument that the broadcasting station has no violation committed, has no tax liabilities, and are fully compliant to DOLE directives. The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) admits that ABS-CBN did not violate any franchise terms and the Department of Justice (DOJ) states that Eugenio Gabby Lopez III, the chairman of ABS-CBN Corporation, is a Filipino citizen. 

For the issue on taxes, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), both had admitted that ABS-CBN had been paying their dues and obligations. It has been pointed out that the broadcasting network had regularly filed and paid their taxes, amounting to P14.39 billion from the years 2016-2019 and that there is no pending violation up for debate nor investigation.

Labour Undersecretary Ana Dione had stated that ABS-CBN had, “fully complied” with general labour standards, occupational health and safety standards, and measures to ensure the security of tenure of its employees following “directives” issued by the Department of Labour and Employment (DOLE)” And there were accounts and testimonies to say that, indeed, ABS-CBN has been treating its workers well. 

According to Christian V. Esguerra, a writer ABS-CBN News, the NTC had stated that, “ABS-CBN Corp. did not violate the terms of its old franchise when it introduced multiple programs through its TV plus digital boxes.” This just affirms the thought that ABS-CBN has its permits for its broadcast services, the six programs in one channel is ultimately allowed. 

Overall, many had seen the closure of ABS-CBN as an attack to broadcast media, with fallacies up and about destroying its reputation. But just as we have much evidence to prove that the station had own up to its end of the bargain, the House of Representatives seems to think otherwise. 

 Neil Arwin Mercado, a reporter for the Philippine Daily Inquirer, has stated, “After 12 gruelling marathon hearings tackling several issues hounding media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a 25-year franchise, lawmakers who are for and against the franchise summed up their arguments on Thursday, marking the end of the debates on the highly contentious issue—at least in the House committee level.” 

With a 70-11 vote, leaning towards the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise renewal, it seems to be the “end of the road” for the broadcasting station. The House of Representatives, with the recommendation of the Technical Working Group (TWG), has found that the resolution for the franchise application is by no means related to “freedom of the press.” The apparent closure of the broadcasting station is due to it being violative of the Philippine Constitution and that it is unworthy of a renewal. 

The Panel defends their contentions through the following statements, (1) Eugenio Lopez became the President of ABS-CBN before being recognized as a Filipino and that there is doubt to his allegiance to the Philippines. Lopez was the CEO of the broadcasting station in the year 1993, but it was only in 2001 where he had applied for recognition of his Philippine citizenship. (2) ABS-CBN were issuing Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR) to foreigners, holding that there is apparent favour of foreigners with shares leaning towards them. (3) The Broadcasting station had reached its 50-year limit, violating Section 11, Article XII of the 1987 Philippine Constitution. (4) ABS-CBN’s labour practices are less than desirable, often times leading to the illegal dismissal of workers. And plenty more others that involve tax evasion, the TV plus box, and KBO pay-per-view which violates laws and provisions of the Philippine Constitution. 

From reading this post, to weigh the truth and to choose a side is upon you, the reader. 

I still saw it as an attack to press freedom and an apparent slow, political decay. 

The congress does not speak for the people nor were their will the same as the citizen’s sentiments. ABS-CBN has committed abuses, that much is clear. But they still served as the voice of the people, reaching even the impoverished, to hear of reliable news sources as well as offering some amusement. 

 But, as I state above, to look at the situation is entirely yours. For me, I want them to know that the closure should not have happened. I stand by my favourite quote, “A little hope, no matter how desperate, is never without worth.” 

References: 

https://businessmirror.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/TWG-Findings1.pdf

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1304840/house-panel-denies-abs-cbns-25-year-franchise-renewal-bid?utm_source=vuukle&utm_medium=talk_of_town

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/07/10/house-panel-votes-70-11-to-reject-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1304622/house-panels-adjourn-hearing-on-abs-cbns-franchise-application-whats-next

https://time.com/5865433/philippines-abs-cbn-tv-shut-down/

https://news.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/10/20/bakit-kami-kumonti-vilma-santos-surprised-by-70-11-vote-to-junk-abs-cbn-franchise

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1304840/house-panel-denies-abs-cbns-25-year-franchise-renewal-bid

https://www.rappler.com/views/imho/247059-opinion-abs-cbn-struggle-obtain-franchise

https://businessmirror.com.ph/2020/07/10/house-panel-votes-70-11-to-reject-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABS-CBN_franchise_renewal_controversy

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1299304/abs-cbn-fully-compliant-with-labor-standards-dole-official-tells-house-hearing

https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/06/29/20/abs-cbn-fully-compliant-with-labor-standards-dole-exec

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/06/29/20/ntc-admits-abs-cbn-didnt-violate-franchise-with-multiple-tvplus-programs

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/6/29/NTC-no-violation-ABS-CBN-TV-Plus-.html

https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1232594/abs-cbn-regularly-paying-taxes-bir-official

https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/2/24/ABS-CBN-SEC-BIR-no-violations.html

Of Quarantine and Thoughts that came with It

Andy stared at the screen of laptop and thought to herself, “Is this all there is?”

The quarantine has not been doing her any favours, and she thinks that many would share the same sentiment as her. The girl feels like everything is a simulation where God is looking down at his creation, acting like it is another Sims 4 gameplay. Her character tends to do random to things on a whim like pacing back and forth in the four corners of her room to ruminating about driving a knife on her stomach.

As macabre that statement was, it is a laughable thing at the grand scheme of things.

“It’s a dystopian fantasy world where we’re all trying to speed run the apocalypse,” The girl mutters to herself, scrolling at her Facebook feed as the heavy tune of “Adrenalize” by In this Moment plays in the background. She lets out an exasperated sigh when news of the government screwing everyone over catches her eye, and a couple others trying make light of the situation, "The funny stuff doensn't change the fact that everything is in flames."

“They don’t care, you know.”

She chuckles at the sardonic tone of her younger sister, Viviane, “The oligarchs trying to ruin everyone because they want the people to cut their heads off.” The girl looks over the news feed again, laughing lowly at the “Eat the rich,” meme, “That’s the tea”

“Mom just got home from work.”

“Yeah?”

“There’s a lot a people out still.” Viviane says, not removing her gaze from her phone, “Life got harder ever since the enhanced quarantine. The privileged blame the poor for the spread of the virus but it’s not like they can do anything about it.”

Andy offers the other a wry smile, “The virus exposed the social disparity in its most basic form.” She brings her legs up to her knees, “And, it really brought out the ugly in some people,”

“You think it’s going to get better?”

“I hope so." Andy says but shrugs, "What do you expect from anyone in this hell of a year?"

The days move, a week turns into a month and Andy has found herself thinking of death a whole lot more. There's a sense of isolation, nagging at the back of her mind the longer she stays in the house. She thinks it's her depression talking, worsened by the prolonged days stuck home where random thoughts of self-harm manifests itself. Whatever it is, it just proves Andy's point that the quarantine can mess with a person's mental health.

She calls a lot of people lately, just to address the incessant noise in her head. “I’ve been thinking of harming myself lately.” Andy admits to her girlfriend, casually wiping away the dust and grime on her glasses. Her voice seems to be somewhat stuck on her throat, “I dreamt about cutting my wrists.”

There is the incessant static on Alex’s end, “Are you thinking about doing it?”

Andy contemplates about it. “No.” She says simply, “I don’t think so.”

“Then, you’re still fine.”

“If that’s how you want to look at it.”

Alex laughs, it carried a sad tone with it, “The long stay in the house can be really draining.”

“It is.”

She finally got out of the house, and sees that nothing really changed in the city she lived in.

People were bustling around the shopping district; shops open like there was not a pandemic. If it were not for the multitudes of them wearing face masks and the doctors and military around, Andy would have thought that nothing happened, that the Coronavirus did not happen.

“Pagod na ako.” She overhears one of them say, “Ikakamatay natin tong sakit na to, wala nga lang gamot, minsan wala disiplina ang tao.”

“Sino garud sisisihin natin? Ang hirap na magturo ng daliri.”

“Gobyerno? Tao? Yung mga instik?”

“Tangina talaga.”

The two laughed, but it is noticeable that they are tired.

Andy continues walking, their laughter fading in the noise of people walking down the streets, bags of grocery in tow. She ponders for a while and looks at the elderly woman who slowly trudges towards a fruit vendor, “Manang bakit nakalabas kayo? Bawal po yan.”

“Wala ako kasama sa bahay, ako lang.” She says, her voice somewhat hoarse, “Kung hindi ako bibili, edi sino?”

It is a sad thing. It really is. The woman gets reprimanded and Andy decides not to ogle.

She walks away, does not hear the rest of how the conversation went, but Andy has one thing that she mutters under her breath, “Tangina talaga.”