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MANILA: The Philippines’ telecommunications body ordered the country’s leading broadcaster, ABS-CBN Corp, to cease operations on Tuesday (May 5), as a parliament dominated by loyalists of President Rodrigo Duterte struggled to renew Your license.
Duterte has repeatedly threatened to block ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, after the channel angered him during the 2016 presidential election by refusing to air his campaign commercials.
Opposition lawmakers described the order for the channel to suspend operations as “untimely” given the need to inform the public in the battle against the coronavirus outbreak in the country.
It appeared the station would get its renewal after it publicly apologized to Duterte earlier this year, and the justice minister said the license was considered extended until Congress took action.
But there has been a persistent threat in the form of a case filed in the nation’s highest court by government attorney José Cálida, who sought the immediate closure of ABS-CBN.
The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the case, and Calida warned that it was illegal for the station to operate after its license expired.
In a statement, ABS-CBN said it will halt operations on Tuesday night to comply with the order of the National Telecommunications Commission, while also imploring legislators in Congress, the lower house of parliament, to renew their franchise, which expired on May 4.
“We are confident that the government will decide on our franchise taking into account the best interests of the Filipino people, recognizing the role and efforts of ABS-CBN to provide the latest news and information during these difficult times,” the channel said in a statement.
Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government was grateful for the station’s service, but ABS-CBN’s fate lay with Congress.
The channel also said it had been given assurances that it could continue broadcasting while bills to extend its franchise were still in the hands of Congress.
However, NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the order for the canal detention operations went into effect immediately, but added that ABS-CBN could appeal through the courts. The regulator also gave ABS-CBN 10 days to respond and explain why the assigned frequencies should not be removed.
ABS-CBN, a 66-year-old entertainment and media conglomerate, employs nearly 7,000 people, operates radio and television stations across the country, and distributes content online.
“This is a very serious blow to press freedom in the Philippines,” said Carlos Conde of Human Rights Watch. “It’s hard to think that Duterte has anything to do with this.”
Antonio Albano, vice president of the lower house’s legislative franchise committee, said Congress will order the telecommunications agency to explain its action.
“We are in arms against this,” Albano told DZMM, adding that only Congress can grant or revoke the franchise.
An opposition senator said the canal closure undermines the fight against the coronavirus outbreak, which has infected more than 9,600 people in the Philippines and killed more than 600.
“This closing order goes against the public welfare,” Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
