Charles Teves
Almost two months have passed since Congress decided to shut down media giant ABS-CBN last July 10.
The company has been forced to downsize operations, including the retrenchment of thousands of employees.
However, the company is still getting bashed by critics, mostly supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte. Critics say that ABS-CBN’s management team is to blame for the unfortunate shutdown.
They also say that they feel bad for the retrenched artists because the company just released them without final compensation.
Pa rather rather pa kayo, wala sa kanila ang nakakaproud. Isang nanabotahe, at isang incompetent na company na walang pake sa artists. Anong nakakaproud dun?@showbtph @ABSCBN
— DRE | SB19: Pagtatag (@Deicsssn) August 19, 2020
#ABSCBNFranchise #ABSCBN just wondering what's separation package provided by ABS-CBN to all their employees?
I don't hear any or come across any news feed about it.— Fieldwarp (@Fieldwarp) September 1, 2020
Im in favor of the franchise pero dapat ung mga workers na d nla nbgyan ng maayos na benipisyo noon at hanggang ngayon mabayaran. Its not all about the employees who are presently working there, how about those people who left abscbn and didnt get the right benefits they deserve
— Carolyn (@Carol85386479) July 5, 2020
Management is playing a game of 3D chess. Their pawns, er talents, those pitiful employees too naive to see the real scenario, are left playing "dama" . ABSCBN has the nerve to play with their employees' welfare……
— #BBM – Bongbong Beats Madumb (@Ilokoslovak) May 7, 2020
Stop lying. The government did not shut down ABSCBN. They failed to get a new franchise because of abuse and MISMANAGEMENT. It is the company's FAULT not the government's. Don't pass the BLAME. However, the employees can seek redress from the proper government agencies.
— Camilo Nacionales (@MiloNacionales) July 25, 2020
Agree. Yung boss nila ang May kasalanan Bakit sila napasara, ang hina ng logic nitong mga taga abscbn na to
— Mark Cruz (@MarkCru48623229) August 29, 2020
However, DJ Chacha has denied this on Twitter.
She labeled the accusation as ‘fake news’, saying former ABS-CBN employees have received assistance from the company.
Hello bashers. FYI, may financial assistance pong matatanggap ang lahat ng MOR DJs/Staff na wala na sa ABSCBN. Dami niyo na naman hanash, puro kayo fake news. Gawa na lang kayo avatar para may pagka-busyhan mga teh! pic.twitter.com/k3pU3zAikE
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) September 2, 2020
Pasabe hindi bragging ito. Pagsasabi lamang ng katotohanan. Dami nila hanash masyado sila tutok sa ABS, Philhealth naman mga tikom bibig! Nyareeee 🤣 https://t.co/SGaEGMpzaA
— DJ Chacha (@_djchacha) September 2, 2020
Of the 11,000 ABS-CBN employees, 4,452 were part of the retrenchment. In a document submitted to the Department of Labor and Employment, ABS-CBN said that retrenching was necessary because of financial losses.
ABS-CBN Tulong Center late in August announced that its free medical and legal services will come to an end. The Tulong Center started in 2014 and has helped over 55,000 Filipinos.
ABS-CBN Foundation will also cease to offer services due to the shutdown, which will eventually see Bantay Bata 163 offices close.
But even with all the struggles, ABS-CBN Foundation’s “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig: Isang Daan. Isang Pamilya.” continues to help wherever it is needed. The initiative has helped over 880,000 families, and 100 hospitals.
Meanwhile, Kapamilya reporter Warren de Guzman recently claimed that the reason why Congress shut ABS-CBN down was because of how well the company compensated their journalists, decreasing the chances of biased reporting, and corruption.
He said that lawmakers wanted to have a hand in how ABS-CBN journalists would report the news, something that is against the freedom of speech.
