The National Telecommunications Commission issued a Cease-and-Desist order against ABS-CBN to stop operating both its television and radio programs due to its expired franchise.
ABS-CBN workers have reacted on the issue and refused to accept the decision made by the NTC, an agency under President Rodrigo Duterte’s government, which is only responsible for the supervision, and control over all telecommunications services in the country and does not decide whether or not a broadcasting network should continue to operate.
Here are the reactions of ABS-CBN workers to cease-and-desist order of NTC:
In the service of the Filipino. We remain. pic.twitter.com/veA0dOU4NA
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) May 5, 2020
Ang sakit sa puso na makita ang mga kasamahan ko sa trabaho na umiyak sa pagkawala sa ere ng ABS-CBN. Iiyak natin ngayong gabi.
Bukas may laban pa.
Di tayo pasisiil. pic.twitter.com/KjF7vJ5c0Y
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) May 5, 2020
— Ria Atayde (@RiaAtayde) May 5, 2020
"Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." – Thomas Jefferson pic.twitter.com/aUZJSf0HF0
— Zen Hernandez (@zenhernandez) May 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zcNBFALyk/
Today, we are witnessing history unfold. 05052020.
— MJ Felipe (@mjfelipe) May 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/TheRainBro/status/1257596878788521985
In the service of the Filipino. We remain. https://t.co/sHWPCaApDz
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) May 5, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zjs3XD_55/?igshid=wpq2h4ijbxx4
Angel Locsin did not hesitate to air her opinion and suggest the NTC reconsider as many Filipinos will lose their jobs, especially during these trying times when people are fighting the pandemic COVID-19 disease as well as dealing with financial issues.
Angel said: “Para sa kapwa. Sa panahon na kailangan ng hanap buhay ng mga tao. Let’s be considerate and ask ourselves kung makakatulong ba ang mga desisyon natin sa lalo na sa panahong ito.
To ABS-CBN, isang karangalan po na naging bahagi at nakasama ko po kayo. Mahal ko kayo. Para sa #MalayangPamamahayag.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zXmzQFpeb/?igshid=d8i5c6zriplu
Karen Davila emphasized that more serious problems in the country need immediate solutions, but NTC still chose to stop ABS-CBN.
Sa dami ng problema ng Pilipinas… sa dami ng nagkakasakit at namamatay sa Covid… sa laki ng problema ngayon sa ekonomiya..sa dami ng nawalan ng trabaho dahil sa covid..
Talagang pagpapatigil ng ABSCBN ang inatupag nila. Hindi ko maintindihan kung nasaan ang mga puso nito.
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) May 5, 2020
Bianca Gonzalez reiterated that even Congress allowed the continued operations of the giant network as its franchise is being reviewed and that the Senate has confirmed that ABS-CBN has complied with everything needed to ensure continuous operation.
Didn't Congress already allow operations to continue while the renewal was being reviewed….? And didn't Senate look into the case via a hearing and found everything in order..? https://t.co/vUyBcYSK3g
— Bianca Gonzalez (@iamsuperbianca) May 5, 2020
Other celebrities sympathized with their home network:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zZ8soHx1i/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zdmYlH2K6/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zV0ZoDEtF/
https://www.instagram.com/p/B_zh4sTn8R9/
Yoohoooo, House of Representatives!
This is on you. You had all the time and opportunity. Huwag kayong feeling butthurt.
— Agot Isidro (@agot_isidro) May 5, 2020