This is just me being a pessimist, but I honestly think Congress won’t approve the ABS-CBN franchise anymore. I think of De Lima, Sereno, and Ressa. If the gov’t wants someone out of their way, they will do everything in their power to see to it that they’re out.
We’ve all seen how unfair the hearings were conducted. No matter what explanation ABS-CBN execs and concerned gov’t agencies say to clear the network’s alleged violations, some of the congressmen still choose to play the unreasonable devil’s advocate.
Suddenly they’ve become labor champions and tax experts. Suddenly they’ve become heroes of the Constitution. Suddenly they’ve become righteous. As if they ever were.
As much as I want to stay positive, I’ve run out of reasons to believe that something good will come out of all the intimidation and bullying. As long as Duterte and his allies are in power, we will have a scarcity of good news, and we will wake up angry every day.
Ever since Duterte threatened to shut down the network, I’ve always thought it would be an impossible feat. But the impossible happened, and on May 5, our TV screens faded to black at 7:52 p.m.
It was just the beginning of a series of nightmares for the network. It’s been two months, and after what seemed like an endless debacle of interpellations, the Congress decision will be voted this week. The country holds its breath as the hearing comes to a close.
The next few days will be crucial for ABS-CBN, and we will have learned if the fight is over or not. I hope I am wrong. The network deserves the franchise. It doesn’t deserve another fade-out.
#VoteYesToABSCBN
#VoteYesToABSCBN
