Several journalists slammed government agencies after the latter’s respective Facebook pages posted false information about the ABS-CBN franchise.
Over the weekend, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), and Radio-TV Malacañang (RTVM) shared a Facebook post containing fake news about ABS-CBN franchise which was already addressed numerous times by the network.
The posts contained the debunked allegations by FICTAP saying ABS-CBN violated their franchise by using several channels in TV Plus and it engaging in pay per view service via KBO.
The post triggered several journalists who blasted the government agencies for their dubious attack on the network.
Pia Gutierrez in a tweet asked PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar how come the PCOO Facebook page was spreading false info about ABS-CBN.
Sec @martinandanar, why are PCOO social media pages being used to spread fake news on the ABS-CBN franchise issue? pic.twitter.com/tmbylWHkfK
— Pia Gutierrez (@pia_gutierrez) May 9, 2020
She also added what is the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict’s stake in the issue since ABS-CBN franchise has nothing to do with communism.
Also, bakit may opinyon sa isyu ng pagrenew ng prangkisa ng ABS-CBN ang National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict? pic.twitter.com/HLYl0akDlR
— Pia Gutierrez (@pia_gutierrez) May 9, 2020
Mike Navallo and Janvic Mateo also asked the same, saying what’s NTFELCAC’s concern about the network’s franchise issue.
PCOO, NTFELCAC spewing lies after lies. ABS-CBN's franchise bill was not disapproved due to legal issues BUT Congress didn't act on it. All issues were cleared during Senate hearing.
Why is anti-communist task force interested in ABS-CBN?
Why are we paying fake news peddlers? pic.twitter.com/BjChlwsGzK
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) May 9, 2020
A national task force to end local communist armed conflict weighs in on ABS-CBN franchise issue using its social media page. It stated, among others, a false claim that the request for franchise renewal was disapproved. Disapproval is different from pendency. https://t.co/9uU75fdlaW
— jnvc (@janvicmateo) May 9, 2020
PCOO Sec. Martin Andanar disowned the post as an “unvetted post” to which ABS-CBN journalist Tony Velasquez reacted by asking Andanar what is PCOO’s usual vetting process.
Talaga lang ha, Sec. @martinandanar?? At ano nga ba ang "usual vetting process" sa @pcoogov? Eh kayo pa mismo ang gigil na gigil na magpakulong ng gumagawa ng "fake news", kahit malinaw na komentaryo lang, tapos eto't buwis ng taumbayan ang gagamitin niyo para manlinlang?? https://t.co/6mJiAqsDxH
— Tony Velasquez (@KakanTuring) May 9, 2020
Meanwhile, other celebrities and netizens also blasted the government agencies under the executive department for spreading lies about the ABS-CBN issue.
Law is the law ba kamo? Ito o – official government pages, nagkakalat ng fake news.
Anong gagawin niyo? Compassion na naman? https://t.co/ZMQwO7upJ3
— Mikoy Morales (@MikoyMorales) May 9, 2020
“I have no idea as to why NTF-ELCAC would post such a statement that has no relevance to its mandate. Baka bogus post yan.”
– Justice Sec. Guevarra on National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict fake news post on ABS-CBN franchise, which was reposted by PCOO
— Ina Reformina (@InaReformina) May 9, 2020
CALLING OUT SOURCES: If journalists call out certain officials and government agencies for spreading "fake news," they are being professional and ethical. As a principle of journalism, truth-telling has an objective to expose lies. (Please forward this to PCOO and NTF ELCAC.)
— Danilo Arao (@dannyarao) May 11, 2020
There have been multiple times when @martinandanar as PCOO head should have resigned, but tonight takes the cake.
If it was intentional, then your office is guilty of spreading misinformation/fake news.
If it "didn't go through usual vetting" then that's incompetence.
Shame.
— Jason del Rosario (@fauxillustrado) May 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/macoydubs1/status/1259038585400918016
https://twitter.com/sheenclaudpaz/status/1259092641284677637
PCOO should be abolish they are the source fake news!
Home of the Lies and Untrue Facts!
Shame!Shame! Shame!— whatudoin (@htppsface) May 9, 2020
Spreading fake news is a crime #ArrestPCOOofficialsNow mga kunsintidor at iresponsable!
— Chai (@PeChai17) May 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/MissmaeAnn/status/1259049929596473344
Why PCOO, our own govt agency.. are the ones spreading fake news? pic.twitter.com/9vMCMeYg1C
— #lans_2007 (@ynallim) May 9, 2020
https://twitter.com/pastelsnjaune/status/1259061967462952960
Why the fuck PCOO is spreading fake news about ABS-CBN's franchise renewal?
— julian (@dyolyannnn) May 9, 2020
