EDITORIAL

ESSAY
Areglado, Karl Angelo
Bool, Jayvee Brian
Doria, John Carlo
Manalo, Jose Nathaniel
 Lights Off
Funny to think but ain’t funny to take how political grievances trigger a tussle on freedom, lives,
and rights of Filipinos.

The formal shutdown of ABS-CBN or Philippines’ largest broadcast network last July 10, 2020,
intensified the difficulties that Filipinos are facing amidst global pandemic. After 13 successive hearings,
committee of the House of Representatives—most members are allied with President Rodrigo Duterte—
surprisingly gained majority of votes to deny ABS-CBN’s application for renewal of its franchise. Now is
the time to take into deeper considerations on why it is a huge slap on the faces of Filipinos, not only on
the lives of people behind the station but also on the social, cultural, and political aspects of society.

Denial of ABS-CBN franchise had been backed up with several accusations against the network,
including tax evasion, alleged labor law violations, foreign ownership issues, and biased reporting and
political meddling in its news coverage. These arguments became the very foundation of the victory
against oligarchs that the President wanted to dismantle as he considers them threats to his countrymen.
However, these allegations should have been annulled as the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the
Department of Labor and Employment had already cleared the media corporation of its violations. The
dual citizenship of ABS-CBN Chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez III should also close the foreign
ownership issues since the Constitution does not bar him from owning or managing an economic sector.
Thus, if such accusations should be neglected, chances are that political bias and President Duterte's
grievances to the network's influence will be the only grounds left to advocate ABS-CBN franchise
denial. Likewise, it is a shame for the Congress—who are obliged to be insusceptible to enticements of
power—to risk thousands of jobs and trigger what was perceived to be an economic disaster for the
country just to impress the wealthy and the powerful.

After the misfortune of the media giant—which was only exercising its freedom of expression—
Juan dela Cruz is the one to suffer the heavy burden. In the bargain, around 11,000 employees, who were
just working hard for a living, suddenly became the casualties of the current administration’s arrogance.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa even urged these defenseless workers to move on already and find
another job in the midst of a pandemic. According to him, “Hanap ng ibang trabaho para mabuhay at
magsumikap. May ibang paraan pa naman siguro para mabuhay tayo.” These words just fell from the
tongue of an apathetic man without any difficulty as he doesn’t face the same fate. But no matter how
boneless his tongue may be, it was merely sharp enough to shatter the souls of the real victims of this
regime and crush the rights to freedom of expression of the said network.

Moreover, the words that the senator uttered is not only a direct assault to the people behind the
media and entertainment, whom Filipinos used to rely on during the toughest of times but also to the
exemplary services that the network used to offer. ABS-CBN handled 53 regional television and radio
stations which were the main sources of local news and entertainment for every region. It had been the
culture of Filipinos to rely on such mode of communication, particularly those living in remote areas. And
if this culture was suddenly taken away from them, what will happen to Juan? How much will this affect
his society after being deprived of local news which are delivered on their own dialect? Frankly, if this
culture was changed all of a sudden, it will surely take a long time for the people to adjust, especially in
the middle of a pandemic. Besides, this could be one of the reasons in the increase of the country’s
COVID-19 cases. Just as how the franchise was abolished, the fight against the pandemic was also
abolished, leaving the whole nation armorless in this crisis.

Additionally, television also amplifies voices of the poor. With more than 70 years of flashing in
the television of every Filipino family, the network had become more than just an avenue of information.
Outside these boxes is a company that provides assistance to the poor, especially those who suffer from
calamities, when no one else can. ABS-CBN’s Bantay Bata program, which was founded by the late Gina
Lopez, helped raise public awareness about the rights of the children. There was also the Sagip
Kapamilya program which took immediate response to deliver assistance to the Filipinos during disasters
and several other programs that were created to address different issues in the society. Yet, one can never
imagine the funds that these programs will lose and the number of hapless citizens who could no longer
receive the same support. Hence, the shutdown of ABS-CBN did not only affect the culture of Filipino
people but also the different social institutions present in the society that would lose the financial support
from the network. And to ignore these services—which in fact, fill up the lapses of the government—is a
revelation of how pathetic the current administration is.

Since ABS-CBN is the largest network and one of the highest taxpayers of the country, the
shutdown of the network is also a great loss in the economy. According to Froilan Calilung, a political
analyst and a professor at the University of Santo Tomas, ABS-CBN paid 14.3 billion pesos tax from
2016 to 2019. In regard with this, the BIR set the network apart from the alleged liabilities during the
Senate hearing last February. This statement should free the network from the arguments thrown by the
Congress. Taking a closer look at the issue, one will realize that the shutdown of ABS-CBN is a problem
bearing another problem. If such company which did nothing but to serve the Filipino people, locally and
internationally, was crushed by this government, then any institutions that oppose the current regime can
suffer the same fate. If this happens, can Juan still withstand the burden? Can Juan still endure the abuse
of political power of the current leaders?

During these bleak times, the weight was too much for Juan to survive. Still, the government
doesn’t care. This is clearly a resemblance of the late administration that shuts down ABS-CBN as well.
The leadership of President Duterte reminisces the misery that Filipinos suffered during the Martial Law
in Ferdinand Marcos’ term. One of these is the closure of the same network which was considered as a
murder to the freedom of expression. With the shutdown of ABS-CBN, the administration has clearly
shown its real intentions. Thus, Duterte and Marcos creates no difference—both are afraid of the truth
revealed by the press. With all the failures and lies brought by the government, people have rights to
know the truth.

Therefore, the network is not the one which needs shutdown; this government does. In any
grounds presented during the 13 hearings, there is no single reason good enough to oppress the press
freedom and leave 11,000 Filipinos jobless. The representatives who voted for ABS-CBN franchise
denial could have thought what would be the best for the region they are representing; for their people
whom voices should be heard. The administration, which is no doubt the root of this issue no matter how
the Palace deny, could have lowered their ego and show some sympathy to the people in these times of
crisis. The plan to destroy the oligarchy, which is believed to be a danger to the economic sector of the
Philippines, turned out to be the one that triggers a larger economic disaster. But since these leaders can’t
protect the society they are ruling, the Filipinos should stand up and defend themselves. The government
always fail to support the nation in the middle of a pandemic, crisis, and disaster, but how can they not
fail to ask the support of Juan during election? If the government can dump a huge foundation of news
and information in the country, then Juan can do the same. If the government cannot bring the change
they promised, then Juan can.

Lights off—the tragedy that Filipinos shall never forget. Along with the sudden darkness that
filled up the ABS-CBN building last July 10,2020 was the void that swallowed the whole nation. Hope
seems nowhere to be found. The government, which is responsible in reaching out people, shut down the
institution that filled up all their lapses. The pride is evident and the apathy is undeniable. This darkness is
the proof that there was once a government which ruined the social, cultural, and political aspect of the
nation to create a society no one desires. And yes, it may be funny to think but it ain’t funny to take how
political grievances trigger tussles on freedom, lives, and rights of Filipinos. Maybe, this is the time that
Juan decides whose lights would be better shut off. The lights of a network serving the country or the
lights of this whole circus entertaining people with their mediocre performances. And as long as there are
injustices in the system, Juan should never surrender the fight. Juan needs to get back to the light.