ABS-CBN shutdown shocks labor sector

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – Local labor leader Wennie Sancho said Wednesday that the shutdown of TV network ABS-CBN came as a shock for the labor sector.

Sancho, secretary- general of the General Workers Association, told the Daily Guardian here that the shutdown is an anti-labor practice.

At a time when tens of thousands of workers and minimum wage earners were laid-off from their works, suffering from economic deprivations, an unexpected Cease and Desist Order was issued by the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) against ABS-CBN, Sancho said.

“This came as a shock for the labor sector,” he added.

Sancho said that the shutting down of ABS-CBN is a form of labor oppression and injustice to the 11,000 workers who are doomed to lose their jobs.

“This would result to the economic displacement of their families. This would also exacerbate their situation under the lockdown.” the labor leader said.

He also said that “clearly, NTC committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the CDO by usurping the power of Congress in issuing legislative franchise.”

Sancho said that NTC in issuing the order, walked back from its former stand to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN during the March 10, 2020 congressional hearing.

NTC violated the time-honored principle of “palabra de honor” or the so-called gentleman’s agreement, Sancho lamented.

“Unfortunately, ABS-CBN was lulled into believing that NTC was acting with sincerity with its good faith assurances to issue a provisional authority. ”

GAWA considers ABS-CBN as a strong “frontliner” in our crusade against Covid-19, Sancho said.

He said the networks’ Pantawid Ng Pag-ibig program has benefited millions of people especially the poor and the needy affected by the pandemic.

“We condemn the NTC order shutting down ABS-CBN because it shall deprive millions of Filipinos of the opportunity to be informed about the pandemic, ” Sancho said.

He also said that the NTC decision is “out of order” because it was issued at a time of economic suffering, at a time when people are dying and at a time when our nation is in crisis.