Radiomen weigh in on ABS-CBN shutdown

By Emme Rose Santiagudo

Two Ilonggo radio personalities expressed their sentiments on the shutdown of ABS-CBN.

Veteran radio broadcaster Joel Franco of RMN-Iloilo said the shutdown is a sad day for the media industry in the country.

“It is a sad day for the media. When we are silenced, the people should start pondering on their future,” Franco said.

“There are reasons for the shutdown on the side of the government, but allowing the media to operate sans a franchise will not hurt democracy,” he added.

Aljohn Torreta of Aksyon Radyo Iloilo expressed frustration on the shutdown of the TV network.

“Freedom for media is freedom for all. While I’m setting aside my emotions on the order of NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) to shutdown ABS-CN, I am still puzzled why its franchise has not moved in the Congress until now,” he said.

He compared the situation to the embattled Panay Electric Co. (PECO) which also sought the renewal of their franchise to distribute power in Iloilo City but was denied by Congress.

“Similar situation in PECO’s application for franchise renewal before. I asked former speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo regarding this and she just said, “it seems like it is not moving.” The bigger and more serious question is why is it not moving?” he said.

Following the shutdown of one of the vocal critics of the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte, Torreta couldn’t help but express his concern on small and independent media outlets in the country.

“President Duterte is vocal that he is against the passing and granting of the franchise to ABS-CBN. If this has happened to one of the media giants in the country, how about the small and independent media outlets,” he lamented.

Torreta stressed that correct information from reliable media sources is crucial, especially amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Now with the COVID-19 threat, we need the right information. We need reliable media sources, not entertainers who got the position because of utang na loob,” he said.