ABS-CBN employees could be referred to DOLE for aid -Roque

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque on Wednesday said ABC-CBN employees affected by the closure order from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) could be referred to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) for assistance.

Interviewed on state-run PTV-4, Roque said he will reach out to Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III about the concerns of ABS-CBN workers amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.

However, according to him, the program is only dedicated to workers with continuous employment who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

“Baka maipasok po natin sila sa programa ng SMEs (small, medium entrepreneurs) para makakuha sila ng panandaliang dalawang buwan na ayuda,” Roque said.

“Dahil itong pangyayari naman po ay nawalan sila ng trabaho na hindi nila ninais. Hindi naman sila nag-resign. Hindi naman voluntarily nag-shutdown ang ABS-CBN,” he added.

'Continue to be employed'

Meanwhile, Bello assured employees of ABS-CBN that they shall continue to be employed despite the NTC order.

"The issuance of the cease and desist order does not have immediate impact on the employment of its employees. It does not automatically extinguish the corporate existence of any company. Legal remedies are available," Bello said in a statement.

"Employees shall continue to be employed. They remain entitled to all labor standards," he added.

While the renewal of the network’s legislative franchise is pending, Bello said the rights of the workers must be protected. "Paramount is the protection of the rights and the promotion of the welfare of all workers, particularly those of ABS-CBN." 

“We trust that this issue will be resolved based on applicable laws, rules and regulations,” he added.

Cease and desist order

The closure order handed down by NTC to ABS-CBN reportedly affects 11,000 employees.

On Tuesday, the NTC issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN to operate its various televisions and radio broadcasting stations nationwide after its franchise lapsed on May 4, 2020.

Upon the expiration of RA 7966, ABS-CBN no longer had a valid and subsisting congressional franchise as required by Act No. 3846, the NTC said.

ABS-CBN complied and went off-air on Tuesday night. 

The network's franchise application is still pending in Congress. — with Ted Cordero/KBK/RSJ, GMA News