A leading broadcast network was ordered shut down by the government last week. The order was announced in the late afternoon, and in the early evening, after its primetime newscast, the network went off the air. It employs some 11,000 individuals.
This action on the part of the administration stokes fear in the hearts of many, especially among those in the media. If the government could order the closure of a big organization, what is to stop it from acting adversely against smaller ones?
The issue has polarized the public anew, and at a time when all differences should be cast aside so people could work together to fight the pandemic. On the one hand, people are crying suppression of press freedom. But those supporting the closure say the network had it coming because of its violations of the law.
It would be easier to assess the merits of the National Telecommunications Commission’s case against ABS-CBN if we could safely divorce the questions from the President’s own interest. Unfortunately, at the outset, Mr, Duterte has been vocal about his dislike of the network. He felt slighted when it failed to air his political advertisement – which he had already paid for – during the campaign for the 2016 polls.
Comments and accusations between those who denounce and support the network’s closure, especially on social media where trolls thrive, are also a sorry development when the conversations should only be about how to push the government to strive for a higher COVID-19 testing capacity. Only this will enable us to know the true extent of the virus’ spread and guide our decisions as we balance protecting ourselves with opening up the economy.
The story is far from over. The next weeks and months will expose who exactly stands to benefit from the network’s closure, who are to blame for the non-renewal of the franchise, and what awaits all those who dare catch a powerful man’s ire. We will stay tuned.