MANILA – Forcing ABS-CBN to go off the air will deprive the public access to a credible news source against the threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said Tuesday.

“With the station off the air, we lose another voice that people rely on for critical information on how to protect themselves and their loved ones from the ill-effects of the virus,” CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement.

Job loss associated to the network’s closure “also aggravates the struggle for a source of living already experienced by the rest of the nation that came with lockdowns and quarantines,” she said.

• NTC orders ABS-CBN to stop broadcasting

The CHR said it was “ironic” that shutting down the network came after the country commemorated Labor Day on May 1, where ABS-CBN workers “face the uncertainty of having no means to support themselves, their families, and even fellow Filipinos in this dire time.”

This also comes after journalists celebrated the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, in which the government’s action will send “a chilling effect on free media and impacts negatively on freedom of expression,” it added.

“We echo our call that political whims should not dictate the fate of ABS-CBN, or any media network, that continues to be an important facet of our democracy,” De Guia said.

“Any alleged violations should be dealt in accordance of the law, and the same protection granted by laws should equally apply to ABS-CBN as it should be to anyone or any entity. We must continue to be vigilant,” she added.

• ABS-CBN to go off air in compliance with NTC order
• Which ABS-CBN businesses can still operate after NTC's cease and desist order?

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Tuesday issued a cease and desist order against the network to stop its broadcast operations following the expiration of its congressional franchise on May 4.

In response to NTC’s order, ABS-CBN went off the air Tuesday night following 65 years of service.

"Millions of Filipinos will lose their source of news and entertainment when ABS-CBN is ordered to go off-air on TV and radio tonight (5 May 2020) when people need crucial and timely information as the nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic," ABS-CBN Corp. said in a statement.

"This is in compliance with the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) today that prohibits ABS-CBN from continuing its broadcast operations effective immediately," it said.

• READ: ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo L. Katigbak's message on the cease and desist order issued to ABS-CBN
• READ: ABS-CBN Chairman Mark L. Lopez's message on the cease and desist order issued to ABS-CBN

News.abs-cbn.com is the official news website of ABS-CBN Corp.