THE threatened shutting off of network giant ABS-CBN owned by the Lopez family will bring tremendous unfavorable effect on so many people, its talents and thousands of workers.
The caprice and unreasonable whim of short-tempered President Rodrigo Roa Duterte initiated the probable shutdown of the network. Now his lapdogs led by Solicitor General Jose Calida has formally applied the vise grip to snuff the life of ABS-CBN via a Quo Warranto petition.
It’s good ABS-CBN is answering, point-by-point the allegations of lapdog Calida in the petition for Quo Warranto with the Supreme Court. It's a case of whatever Duterte wants, he gets.
The freedom of speech and expression, both enshrined in the Constitution are at risk of being transgressed.
The move to not renew the franchise of ABS-CBN obliterates the happiness of viewers who religiously watch daily, the series aired from it.
The House of Representatives, which has the prime duty to renew or not the franchises brought before it for approval should exercise judicious wisdom and not to be influenced by the temperamental President and his lapdogs. By all means, ABS-CBN should be given fair and square treatment.
At the latest, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, another Duterte's ally and lapdog, announced that the hearing on the renewal of the franchise has been put on hold. Then, what is he waiting for? Grease money or lagay? Magkano, papaano? Another lawmaker said ABS-CBN can still operate until 2022, but I don't buy it since Duterte will have his way: he hates the Lopez family so much that he will move heaven and earth to oppose renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN.
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The fate of ABS-CBN's franchise lies solely in the hands of the vengeful President. Even if Congress insists on renewing it, still the President will use his veto power and that's it.
Already, several groups, including the Kapisanan ng mga Broadcaster ng Pilipinas or KBP, expressed indignation over the impending non-renewal (according to Duterte) of ABS-CBN's franchise. This will be a bad precedent.
Everything else that follows shall suffer the same fate. What a tragedy indeed!