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Amnesty International calls ABS-CBN News shutdown ‘dark day for media freedom’

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ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Amnesty International on Tuesday said the cease and desist order slapped by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on media network ABS-CBN Corp. is an &quot;outrageous attack on media freedom.&quot;In a statement, Amnesty International Philippines section director Butch Olano said the government must act immediately on the issue to keep ABS-CBN on air.&quot;Ordering ABS-CBN to stop its operations is an outrageous attack on media freedom. It is especially reckless as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. The Filipino people need accurate information from independent sources. The government must act immediately to keep ABS-CBN on air and cease all attempts to curtail media freedom,&quot; Olano said.&quot;This latest move against ABS-CBN occurs after repeated attacks in the past against the network by President Duterte himself. &quot;It is yet another attack on freedom of expression in recent weeks, following the authorities’ legal threats against people who criticized the government’s response to the pandemic.&quot;This is a dark day for media freedom in the Philippines, reminiscent of martial law when the dictatorship seized control over news agencies. The lessons of history should be a reminder to the government not to go down this path, press freedom must be upheld and this attack on ABS-CBN should be vigorously opposed by all who care about free speech.&quot;The NTC has ordered ABS-CBN to “cease and desist” from broadcasting on television and radio, one day after the company’s 25-year operating franchise expired.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/05/20/ntc-orders-abs-cbn-to-stop-broadcasting">NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop broadcasting</a></li></ul>In a cease-and-desist order dated May 5, the agency said the network must stop its broadcast operations &quot;due to the expiration of its congressional franchise&quot; on Monday, May 4. The NTC said the network should &quot;stop operating its various TV and radio broadcasting stations nationwide &#x27;absent a valid Congressional Franchise as required by law&#x27;.&quot;It issued the order after Solicitor General Jose Calida warned the agency against issuing a temporary permit to operate for ABS-CBN. Calida has asked the Supreme Court to invalidate ABS-CBN&#x27;s franchise for its alleged Constitutional violations, but the high court has yet tot rule on the matter.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/03/20/calida-warns-ntc-against-issuing-provisional-authority-to-abs-cbn-affiliates">Calida warns NTC against issuing provisional authority to ABS-CBN, affiliates</a></li></ul>

"It is especially reckless as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic," said Amnesty International Philippines section director Butch Olano.

"It is especially reckless as the country deals with the COVID-19 pandemic," said Amnesty International Philippines section director Butch Olano.