MANILA, Philippines — GMA’s late-night newscast “Saksi” on July 10 gave a solidarity extro in an apparent show of support to its beleaguered rival media network ABS-CBN, which franchise application was killed earlier that day at the House of Representatives.
In a Facebook post originally by page Media News Blog, and later culled by netizen Dawnie Tiu, it detailed the last moments of the newscast’s Friday episode.
“GMA late-night newscast Saksi ended its’ newscast with a different extro, Saturday morning with Pia Arcangel and Raffy Tima, substituting for Arnold Clavio instead mentioned the words ‘’Para sa Malayang Pilipino, kaisa kami ng lahat sa pagiging Saksi (For every free Filipino, we are one with you in being a witness),’” the post read.
“The newscast did not play its’ theme music in the closing credits instead the lights in the studio was closed with the background screen behind the anchors show the photos of the transmitter of its’ major rival ABS-CBN, and logo of the station on its’ main gate along Mother Ignacia Street in Quezon City with candles,” the post added.
Tiu’s post later went viral, earning 17,000 likes and reactions, as well as 10,000 shares, as of this writing.
After 13 hearings, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted a recommendation of the technical working group rejecting the broadcasting company’s application for another 25-year franchise.
READ: House panel closes down ABS-CBN
Seventy lawmakers voted to adopt the recommendation, while 11 voted against it.
ABS-CBN has been off the air since May 5, when the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) issued cease and desist order against its operations.