MANILA — Actor Dingdong Dantes, a prized star of GMA-7, has expressed support for its rival network ABS-CBN amid the challenges to its franchise renewal.
The former National Youth Commission head, 39, released his statement in support of the Kapamilya network, a day after the Office of the Solicitor General filed a quo warranto petition asking the Supreme Court to void its franchise.
"Magkaiba man ng bakod, we are one in the media industry," Dantes wrote on Twitter on Tuesday.
"We have one love for the many talents and crafts under this Network, the products and output of which, directly or indirectly, benefit the lives of millions of Filipinos," he said.
Dantes then quoted a portion of Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza's privilege speech on the ABS-CBN's franchise renewal the day prior.
"Inaction will only spell the weakening of the foundations of our democratic system... This Congress is really paralyzed with inaction; and we should not be deserving to be called representatives of the people," Atienza had said, as shared by Dantes.
The lawmaker was referring to the pending bills before Congress seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN, which will expire at the end of March.
"In the end," Dantes added, "I pray that the true interests of the people, under the rule of law, will prevail over any other political agenda conveniently veiled as a countermeasure against alleged abuses."
"I pray too that the government, thru Congress, will hear out its constituents. After all, Congress is supposed to represent our 'voice.' #NoToABSCBNShutDown," he wrote.
Dantes, while an exclusive TV talent of GMA-7, has been a frequent collaborator of ABS-CBN Films' Star Cinema. He most recently starred in the Kapamilya project "Fantastica" in 2018.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - A media law expert on Tuesday urged the Supreme Court to act judiciously on the quo warranto petition seeking to void ABS-CBN's franchise, saying the network's shutdown would be "a very dark day" for the country.
On ANC's Headstart, lawyer Marichu Lambino, an expert on media law and ethics at the University of the Philippines College of Mass Communication, stressed that the right to a free press is vital to the nation.
"We hope that the Supreme Court acts judiciously and follows all the precedents on whether or not it can repeal a legislative franchise, or whether or not it should exercise the administrative regulation reposed upon the National Telecommunications Commission," said Lambino.
"The nation will not survive a single day without a free and independent press," she said.
On Monday, Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN Corp and ABS-CBN Convergence, citing supposed "abuses" in their franchises.
"The filing of the quo warranto was resorted to because it can be fast, it can be granted in a quick manner, or it can be granted in a judicious manner depending on the Supreme Court," said Lambino.
Lambino believes it is highly probable that Congress would not act on the network's franchise issue because they are going on recess on March 11.
ABS-CBN Corp's franchise is due to expire by the end of March, while its subsidiary, which runs movie channel Kapamilya Box Office, will have its franchise lapse by June 30, 2022.
Several bills are pending in Congress for the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise, but no panel hearings have been set. President Rodrigo Duterte has several times expressed his opposition to allowing the network to continue airing.
"I think it's very frightening when that day comes when we will just see a no signal. It would just be a very dark day for this country when that happens," she said.
She added: "We need ABS-CBN to be there when we are all sleeping and your reporters are awake watching the world for us, watching if there are super typhoons, if there are disasters, if the world is going to crack open. We need ABS-CBN there."
House Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel earlier cited 2 different legal experts' views on whether or not ABS-CBN could still air its programs if its franchise is not renewed.
"Based on experience, there have been some franchisees that have been able to operate in spite of the expiration of their franchise and these are small telcos, local telcos, small radio station," Pimentel said.
But Pimentel stressed that ABS-CBN's case is different.
"We know very well that the President has been very vocal, has made some pronouncements that he does not want ABS-CBN to be renewed," he said.
He said the network couldn’t do anything if the NTC orders it to stop airing its programs.
Lambino added that based on practice, the NTC grants a grace period.
"But if there are orders from higher ups, we might see darkness on March 31," she said.
Malacañang on Monday said the President's verbal attacks against ABS-CBN Corp. is not related to the filing of the quo warranto petition against the network.
But Lambino believes otherwise.
"The pronouncement of the president is policy, so it’s going to be followed by government officials," Lambino said.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
MANILA - Ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno on Friday said she rejected earlier "offers" to have a dialogue with President Rodrigo Duterte to mend ties and ask for the withdrawal of the impeachment complaint and quo warranto petition filed against her.
"May mga offer. May mga ideya na ganyan na ang solusyon sa problema ay pakikipag-usap o pagbabati," Sereno told reporters without divulging who volunteered to set up a meeting between her and the president.
(There were offers. There were ideas floated that mending ties with Duterte would be the solution to my problems.)
Sereno said she turned down the offers and idea as she felt that it would compromise the judiciary's independence.
"Hindi ako nakipagkompromiso. Nanindigan ako. Kung ako ay nag-compromise dun, hihina ako (as chief justice)," she said.
(I did not compromise. I stood firm. If I compromised, I would become a weak chief justice.)
"Hindi puwede na ang politicians ang magsasabi o magdidikta sa bayan, kailangan Constitution," she said.
Sereno was ousted as top magistrate after 8 of her colleagues voted in favor of the Solicitor General's petition to nullify her appointment in 2012 for not submitting all her Statements of Assets Liabilities and Net worth (SALNs) when was applied for the post.
An impeachment case against Sereno is still pending at the House of Representatives where Duterte enjoys a "super majority," but the SC ruling makes it moot.
Sereno, the youngest and the first female chief justice of the Philippines, said she had no regrets that she brushed off the offer to "play politics" with the executive department.
"An outsider, reformer, and someone who is not willing to play politics should be anticipating this outcome," she said.
Earlier this year, Duterte said he considered Sereno his "enemy" after she urged him to explain why the government's lawyer was seeking the invalidation of her appointment.
source: news.abs-cbn.com
