Anti-Arroyo TV shows taken off air

Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:04 am (PST)

Anti-Arroyo TV shows taken off air

Two current affairs shows on ABC 5 that were allegedly anti-Arroyo
administration were taken off the air after the television network's
owner was implicated in the attempted coup d'etat last year, TV
Patrol World reported Thursday.

The ABC 5 staff was surprised to learn that network boss
Antonio "Tonyboy" Cojuangco had ordered the cancellation of "Dokyu"
and "Frontlines," programs known for their sometimes hard-hitting
comments against the administration.

Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez, however, denied that the government
influenced Cojuangco's decision.

"Frankly I have not sat in any discussion where this particular
thing has been talked about," Gonzalez said in an interview.

He, however, added: "Mr. Cojuangco is involved in all
destabilization attempts especially in the February 24-25 [coup
attempt], down the line funding and his direct connections with
General [Danilo] Lim... [and] the video on the supposed withdrawal
of support."

Gonzalez was referring to the video where Lim, a former chief of the
Army's elite Scout Rangers, was seen and heard calling on fellow
soldiers to withdraw support for President Arroyo.

Investigators had said that ABC 5 facilities were used in making the
video.

Gonzalez said that if Cojuangco indeed ordered the cancellation of
the shows to lessen friction between him and the Arroyo
administration, then he might succeed.

"The case of the pudding is in the eating. We'll find out," the
justice chief said.

A source, meanwhile, told ABS-CBN that the reason behind the shows'
cancellations is the network's financial losses. The same source
said the network loses about P40 million monthly.

At the same time the two current affairs show were
cancelled, "Newsbreak," an investigative magazine financed by
Cojuangco, was also closed down.

Malacañang had condemned the magazine for its exposés against
alleged government irregularities.

Maritess Vitug, the magazine's editor-in-chief, confirmed in a text
message to ABS-CBN that Cojuangco might have been forced to stop
financing the magazine.

She said that in a way, Cojuangco financed the magazine's operations
by putting in seed money and by placing advertisements.

ABS-CBN tried to get a statement from Cojuangco but the calls were
unanswered. ABC 5 management declined to issue a statement. With a
report from Ricky Carandang