Statement of the Ecumenical Bishop’s Forum

At a time when the rallying cry is for this country to “Heal as One” the latest action to order the closure of a major television network that has, arguably perhaps, a wide reach to many parts of the country more than any other network does not bode well in support of the national call.

The Ecumenical Bishops Forum (EBF) expresses profound dismay and disappointment over the shutdown imposed on the television network on May 5. Profound dismay because devoid of the legal and political rhetoric that abound what is true is that many people are deprived of a source of information from the capital. Profound disappointment because the action polarized further the people of this country. Woefully, this social divide has increased antagonism.

The EBF says enough of this deliberate plot to further acrimony or hostility now wreaking havoc on our social fiber. Let us begin to “HEAL AS ONE”. Those in positions of civil authority should lead the process.

We do not only live in the present. We have a future to be accountable to, as it is often said, the people of the present merely borrowed the present from future generations. We cannot go on with dissension after dissension as we are doing now. The deprivation of a significant source of information from the centers for many people in remote parts constitutes a further denial of people to be informed.

We urge Congress not to pander anymore. Act with dispatch on bills gathering dust on your agenda. You owe it to the public. Meanwhile, in recent days we have also witnessed major segments of our population rising up against abuses. May we who yet survive COVID-19 rise towards a uniting and healing nation.

Issued and Signed on this day 9th May 2020

Sgd.
MOST REV. BISHOP EMERITUS DEOGRACIAS S. INIGUEZ, JR.
Co-chairperson, Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Divine Shrine Parish, Marilao, Bulacan

Sgd.
THE RT. REVD. REX. B. REYES, JR.
Co-chairperson, Ecumenical Bishops Forum
Episcopal Diocese of Central Philippines

Sgd.
BISHOP JOEL E. TENDERO
General Secretary, Ecumenical Bishops Forum
UCCP South Luzon Jurisdictional Area

Circular No. 20-32
7 May 2020

Your Eminences, Excellencies, and Diocesan Administrators:

RE: Statement on the Closure of ABS-CBN

        My first thought in the currently much talked-about closure of ABS-CBN is our people – our people who are in these extremely difficult and trying times because of the coronavirus pandemic.

        Because of the closure of this broadcast station, our people have lost one of our country’s major sources of information which is crucial to our people in this present situation. If I may add, they also have lost a source of entertainment and diversion during these days of confinement in their homes for more than two months already due to the lockdown measures.

        These days our people truly need more than ever broadcast services that would bring them the much-needed information in this time of crisis.

           With this consideration, I sincerely hope and pray that our government, especially our Congress, will work together to resolve the issue so that ABS-CBN may be allowed to resume its broadcast the soonest to the benefit of our people who really need as many as possible sources of good and reliable information in this time of suffering and distress.

Statement of the CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications on the Shutting Down of ABS CBN

The Peace of our Lord be to all!

The CBCP Episcopal Commission on Social Communications is aware of the sentiments of our people regarding the lapse of the franchise of ABS CBN and the cease and desist order imposed upon them by the NTC. We recognize the importance of the role of the same corporation in the Philippine democratic landscape, as they, together with all other Philippine media entities represent the voice of the freedom of the press. They are part of the many media channels that contribute to the timely, objective and truthful dissemination of news and information bringing guidance and support to our people especially during this time of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. We are aware of the fact that their closure also jeopardizes the livelihood of more than 11,000 employees, their families, and those whose businesses are directly or indirectly connected and are dependent on the continuous operation of the same media network.

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To make our religious activities safer from the spread of the virus

Note: These guidelines are given due to our extraordinary situation. They are therefore temporary in nature. Furthermore, the situation is so fluid that we foresee that there will be other guidelines that will follow when the situation changes or when there are other directives that will come from the government or from the church hierarchy. These guidelines are given so that we are prepared when religious services will already be allowed.

Schedules:

1.         There should be at least a half hour gap between masses to allow the church to be disinfected after each service.

2.         Since we have lesser masses on Sundays, we can have more services on weekdays.

3.         Ask the people to come on the times when there are lesser people. Encourage the faithful to come on weekday masses if they cannot come on Sundays.

4.         The presence of difficulty, and in some cases impossibility, of fulfilling the Sunday obligation renders the obligation suspended during these extraordinary circumstances.   While Sunday and weekday Masses will already be celebrated in parishes, the live streaming of Masses, at least on Sundays, will continue for those who are unable to participate in the community celebrations due to sickness, old age, fear and caution.

5.         Because we will have lesser mass schedules on Sundays and less people can come on Sundays, the parishes may start their “anticipated masses” on Saturdays at 3 pm, thus have three or four masses on Saturdays and invite the people to join in these masses.

6.         We can have more schedules of baptisms during the week so that people will not congregate on Sundays

Physical structure:

1.         Clearly mark the entrance and exits to the church so that incoming people will not meet outgoing ones. Have marshals who shall man the entrance and exits on Sundays to keep order.

2.         Each entrance and exit should have footbath container.

3.         There should be hand sanitizers at the entrances.

4.         The places to be occupied in the pews should be indicated to help people keep social/ physical distancing. The people should strictly occupy only those places indicated.

5.         There should be notices in front of religious images telling people not to touch or wipe the images. Short prayers can be posted in front of the images to help the people pray in front of them.

6.         All holy water fonts should be emptied and covered so that they may not be used.

7.         If the adoration chapel is small and enclosed, it is better not to open it. Encourage the people to pray in church instead.

8.         Let there be non-touch garbage disposal bins in parish offices and around the church and remind the people to dispose their waste in the proper places. The maintenance people in the parishes are to be taught to properly dispose the garbage.

9.         Let the parish comfort rooms be properly maintained and soap be available for proper hand washing.

10.       For those churches which are air-conditioned, it would be better if the air-conditioning is not used during this time. It will not be so hot after all  because there will not be any over-crowding. Explain to the people that open areas are better than closed spaces to ward off the virus.

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MEDIA PRACTITIONERS, together with first responders among whom are our besieged health workers, have held the line against the further spread of the pandemic in our country.

The NTC’s “Cease and Desist” order to ABS-CBN to abruptly shut down its operations comes at the worst of times.  It comes at a time when we are trying to contain a contagion that has brought our nation down on its knees.  Never before did our country need to unify all our citizens where communication is crucial, and unimpeded independent media is vital. 

The ABS-CBN network with the widest reach in the country not only has the potential but in fact has been helping to inform and mobilize our people to put up our community defenses against the deadly coronavirus.

Our people felt assured by the position of our legislators that the reasonable solution is a provisional permit while the renewal of the franchise was being considered by the Congress, with its sole power to make that decision.  The NTC seemed agreeable to it with the favorable opinion of the Secretary of Justice.  The turn of events otherwise through the initiative of the Solicitor General is a disservice to our people who are already struggling to survive on a day-to-day basis and look to responsible media to inform their decisions and actions in that regard.

Moreover, the NTC action in the face of the inactivity of Congress runs contrary to the mandates in the Constitution: 

“The State SHALL provide the policy environment” for “communication structures suitable to the NEEDS of the nation and the BALANCED FLOW of information…across the country.”  (Article XVI, Section 10, General Provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution)

We support the ABS-CBN’s right to a free and fair process.  We thank its frontliners for their invaluable work to motivate our people to focus on the one undertaking that must bring us together at this time: to defeat the pandemic and provide a better future particularly to those who are most vulnerable among our people.

We call on the courage our people have shown in the past against repressive rule to express themselves again for the common good.

Signatories of Framers of the 1987 Constitution:
Felicitas Arroyo
Florangel Rosario Braid
Ed Garcia and
Christian S. Monsod

NASSA/CARITAS PH
May 6, 2020

On May 5, 2020, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a cease-and-desist order against broadcast media giant, ABS-CBN, due to the expiration of its congressional franchise citing Republic Act 3846 or the Radio Control Law.

Since 2016, ABS-CBN worked for franchise renewal, and bills had been filed since then, and many congressional hearings were held, until it was overtaken by the COVID-19 pandemic. The non-renewal was further caused by the legislative inaction and weaponizing of power for political gain.

It is very unfortunate that we need to be sidelined by this equally important matter when the nation is battling against an invisible enemy, claiming thousands of lives already and endangering even millions more due to the devastating socio-economic impacts of the global health emergency.

Thus as the social action arm of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, NASSA/Caritas Philippines would like to:

1. Express solidarity and sympathy with the employees and their families who would lose their jobs when the network operation stops. We know that this is the most inopportune time for this to happen, when people are already in crisis and are suffering.

2. Appeal for government’s sense of fairness and clemency in applying the letter of the law in view of the common good and to respect the right of the people to have wide access to news and information being provided by the network. Media should be considered a partner in nation building, and it should not be unnecessarily harassed when they are critical or not towing the line of any administration.

3. Stand for freedom of the press and speech. The government or any political figure for that matter do not have the right to curtail these freedoms safeguarded and warranted in the Philippine constitution. We encourage our government leaders to be brave enough to face the public with the truth, and not hide under the guise of political power, harassment and intimidation.

4. Pray that in this time of pandemic, those in position will choose mercy and compassion over personal interests; moral obligation versus legal requirements, and people over powerplay.

The press (media) is considered the fourth state: “the guardian of veritas (truth)” and holds a special responsibility to influence, form and inspire the public with the truth. The Catholic Church, through NASSA/Caritas Philippines will and always stand for and with the truth, through love, justice and peace.

Together, let us heal as one. We are Caritas.

Signed:

Bp. Jose Colin Bagaforo, D.D.
National Director, NASSA/Caritas Philippines

Bp. Gerardo Alminaza, D.D.
Vice Chair, Episcopal Commission on Social Action-Justice and Peace (ECSA-JP)