On ABS-CBN’s closure

The closure of the great TV network ABS-CBN has caused so much ado and controversy. There are people who blame the President for its stoppage of operations. They aver that the President has a calloused heart and don't pity the thousands of employees who lost their means of daily bread most especially during this time of pandemic. However, after listening to the different opinions regarding its closure, I am convinced that the President has nothing to do with the channel's closure.

According to legal experts, there is a law that prohibits a person, entity, radio, and TV station, etc. to operate without a franchise. Because ABS-CBN's franchise terminated last May 4 of this year. Then the NTC was forced to stop ABS-CBN's operation. Therefore, it is very clear that the law is the reason for the channel's being off the air and not President Digong.

It is on record that the network had already asked for an apology from the President and President Digong accepted. The money returned by the management to the President for its failure to air the President's ADS during the campaign period was given by the President to charity.

 It is therefore very clear that ABS-CBN had committed an act against the law because it asked for an apology from the top executives. This reminds me of a story about a small boy playing with his sling shot and accidentally hit a neighbor's window and broke the glass. The parent brought the boy to the counter's house and asked for an apology which the owner accepted. But the parent of the boy was told by the owner that of course they have to pay for the repair of the broken glass. In like manner, when Congress deliberates on ABS-CBN's application for renewal of its franchise, the congressmen must carefully scrutinize the channel's conduct and that it did not breach the law during its operation and if there is, then proper sanctions must be given as a sort of retribution.

By Jose Hortelano

Balamban, Cebu