ABS CBN was ordered by the NTC National Telecommunication Commission to ceased and desist operation of broadcasting by virtue of an expired license.
ABC CBN was originally given the license last March 30, 1995 to expire 25 years after or 2020.
Workers Welfare:
ABS CBN has been expressing concerns over an 11,000 workers that will be out of jobs.
There were celebrities who expressed their opinions and appeal to the government. Among them were Coco Martin and Kim Chiu that instantly goes viral over the social media. Other showbiz personalities have also expressed their opinions.
They mainly pointed out the workers who will be out of jobs and their untimely demise in the middle of a world pandemic. On the other hand, other defended the government
There were also other side support by some celebrities and personalities like Jobert Sucaldito who disputed Kim Chiu, Coco Martin, and turned statements against workers being made as shield of reasons for ABS CBNs cease and desist order.
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Attack on Press Freedom:
Other critics lamented the actions were an attack on Press Freedom. FilAm activist and UP College of MassComm aired their side that ABS shutdown was an attack on Press Freedom.
Supporters of the decision of NTC rejects this idea saying a mere closure by one network, even if its the largest does not mean attacking the press freedom when all other press who legally comply government basic franchise license requirement. Other networks still operating were GMA, TV5, PTV4, CNN Philippines, and SMNI. Rappler.com a known critic of the government still operates freely and report whatever they seemed proper for the public to know. Rappler CEO Maria Ressa's answer on one interview was criticize on the number of employees of ABS CBN, the edited video can be viewed on this link. Netizens were still hoping the report on the international media was also edited and properly communicated. Other radio networks also remained operations whilst they comply government requirement.
Tax Issues.
BIR head of large taxpayers division tells the Senate panel that ABS CBN regularly pay tax. This means that tax issues hammered against ABS CBN were cleared by the BIR. A sigh of relief to the ABS company.
