MANILA, Philippines — Miss Universe titleholders Catriona Gray and Pia Wurtzbach raised their voices on Wednesday in support of media giant ABS-CBN, which shut down its operation the day before as ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
“As we face this global pandemic as a nation, fast and accessible information is key to saving lives,” Gray, Miss Universe 2018, said in an Instagram post. “By silencing voices we’re doing a disservice to our countrymen who need it most.”
She then raised the thought: “At a time in our history when we should be remembered for how we all came together to serve each other. When we look back, what will be remembered instead?”
Miss Universe 2015 winner Wurtzbach, meanwhile, said that ABS-CBN held a “special place” in her heart.
“I spent most of my teenage years in the halls of ABSCBN, attending workshops, doing rehearsals, tapings and even attending classes (They had a high school a few years back and I graduated there) ABSCBN was a home for me,” Wurtzbach said.
“It is also home to 11,000 employees and is in the homes of almost every Filipino family,” she added.
Wurtzbach that she would stand by her ABS-CBN family, hoping that its current situation was “just a challenge.”
The NTC issued a cease and desist order to ABS-CBN after its legislative franchise expired on Monday, May 4.
Under the Radio Control Law, or Republic Act No. 3846, “no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines.”
But bills on the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN had remained pending for years before the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.
After the order was issued, ABS-CBN complied, with all of its television and radio stations going off the air.
/atm