MANILA, Philippines – Netizens on Saturday, January 30, wondered on highly offensive '#ABSCBNnomore' trend on Twitter with the aim to boycott broadcast giant ABS-CBN and other local news organizations due to the alleged biased reporting and irresponsible journalism. Who's behind this campaign to attack and why?
Most impact on #ABSCBNnomore trend
Based on Philippines Trends (@trendinaliaPI), which automatically monitors every hashtag on the social networking sites, the tweet with the most impact on the #ABSCBNnomore trend was published by @Access_TRUTH account.
On its Facebook, Access the TRUTH page for Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) updates encouraged netizens to boycott ABS-CBN as they called them 'ABIAS-CBN.'
"Post po ninyo sa Twitter ang 1000 reasons natin kung bakit #ABSCBNnomore para mas madame po ang magtweet," Access the TRUTH shared.
The page cited some instances ABS-CBN allegedly failed to deliver the truth on news reporting.
"Ang mas pinanigan ng ABS CBN ay ang iilang tiwalag na gumagamit sa kanila upang sirain ang Iglesia, tinalikuran at sinaktan ng ABS CBN ang milyun-milyong kapatid sa buong mundo na marami sa kanila ay kanilang subscribers.
"Kahit alam ABS CBN na ang mga tiwalag na ito ay may mga hinanakit sa Pamamahala sa pagdidisiplina sa kanila dahil sa kanilang paglabag. Natural lamang na puro masama ang sasabihin ng mga ito tungkol sa Iglesia at sa Pamamahala na wala namang katotohanan. Ito’y sa layunin lamang na pabagsakin ang Pamamahala at mga pangunahing katuwang Nila.
"MULA PA SA SIMULA NG MGA ISYU TUNGKOL SA IGLESIA, WALANG PAGSISIKAP ANG ABS CBN NA MALAMAN ANG KUMPLETONG PANIG NG IGLESIA. KUNG MAY ALAM MAN SILA, KANILA ITONG ITINATAGO.
"Nagparamdam na tayo sa kanila, ngunit itinuloy pa rin nila ang biased reporting, siempre may basbas ito ng kanilang management.
"Ginagamit sila ng mga tiwalag upang isulong ang kanilang layuning sirain ang Iglesia sa paningin ng tao.
"Ginagamit din ng ABS CBN ang mga tiwalag upang isulong din ang kanilang hidden agenda."
Check out the full post here.
Did INC order brethren to boycott ABS-CBN?
Several posts on social media also claimed that INC’s Templo Central instructed its members not to watch any program aired by ABS-CBN because the network damaged the sect’s image through its news reports.
ABS-CBN was among the local news organizations which covered the controversial arrest of former INC minister Lowell Menorca on January 20 on libel charges filed in Marawi City by an INC-affiliated group.
In a report from Inquier, Menorca claimed that he was abducted from Bulan, Sorsogon, on orders of INC leaders, was on his way to court to testify on the writ of habeas corpus and amparo he had filed against the sect when plainclothes policemen arrested him.
Standard.com report, which was shared by Access the TRUTH claimed that expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca said on Tuesday that there is no overt and direct threat from the INC leaders to harm him and his family.
"Menorca made the admission before the Court of Appeals Seventh Division during the cross examination by lawyer Rogelio Vinluan, counsel for respondents INC officials, in connection with the petition for the writ of amparo and writ of habeas corpus filed by Menorca’s family accusing the INC leaders of allegedly holding him in custody against his will at the compound of the INC’s Central Office in Quezon City," the page posted.
Meanwhile, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala clarified there's no written directive to its members to boycott ABS-CBN and other news organizations. “Walang circular na binasa sa pagsamba ukol sa issue na ’yan," Zabala told Inquirer.
As of press time, ABS-CBN is yet to release statement on this issue.
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| #ABSCBNnomore trends on Twitter | Screenshot from Twitter photos. |
Most impact on #ABSCBNnomore trend
Based on Philippines Trends (@trendinaliaPI), which automatically monitors every hashtag on the social networking sites, the tweet with the most impact on the #ABSCBNnomore trend was published by @Access_TRUTH account.
The tweet with the most impact of the #ABSCBNnomore Trend, was published by @Access_TRUTH: https://t.co/53wgvETRLa (157 RTs) #trndnl
— Philippines Trends (@trendinaliaPI) January 30, 2016
On its Facebook, Access the TRUTH page for Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) updates encouraged netizens to boycott ABS-CBN as they called them 'ABIAS-CBN.'
"Post po ninyo sa Twitter ang 1000 reasons natin kung bakit #ABSCBNnomore para mas madame po ang magtweet," Access the TRUTH shared.
The page cited some instances ABS-CBN allegedly failed to deliver the truth on news reporting.
"Ang mas pinanigan ng ABS CBN ay ang iilang tiwalag na gumagamit sa kanila upang sirain ang Iglesia, tinalikuran at sinaktan ng ABS CBN ang milyun-milyong kapatid sa buong mundo na marami sa kanila ay kanilang subscribers.
"Kahit alam ABS CBN na ang mga tiwalag na ito ay may mga hinanakit sa Pamamahala sa pagdidisiplina sa kanila dahil sa kanilang paglabag. Natural lamang na puro masama ang sasabihin ng mga ito tungkol sa Iglesia at sa Pamamahala na wala namang katotohanan. Ito’y sa layunin lamang na pabagsakin ang Pamamahala at mga pangunahing katuwang Nila.
"MULA PA SA SIMULA NG MGA ISYU TUNGKOL SA IGLESIA, WALANG PAGSISIKAP ANG ABS CBN NA MALAMAN ANG KUMPLETONG PANIG NG IGLESIA. KUNG MAY ALAM MAN SILA, KANILA ITONG ITINATAGO.
"Nagparamdam na tayo sa kanila, ngunit itinuloy pa rin nila ang biased reporting, siempre may basbas ito ng kanilang management.
"Ginagamit sila ng mga tiwalag upang isulong ang kanilang layuning sirain ang Iglesia sa paningin ng tao.
"Ginagamit din ng ABS CBN ang mga tiwalag upang isulong din ang kanilang hidden agenda."
Check out the full post here.
Did INC order brethren to boycott ABS-CBN?
Several posts on social media also claimed that INC’s Templo Central instructed its members not to watch any program aired by ABS-CBN because the network damaged the sect’s image through its news reports.
ABS-CBN was among the local news organizations which covered the controversial arrest of former INC minister Lowell Menorca on January 20 on libel charges filed in Marawi City by an INC-affiliated group.
In a report from Inquier, Menorca claimed that he was abducted from Bulan, Sorsogon, on orders of INC leaders, was on his way to court to testify on the writ of habeas corpus and amparo he had filed against the sect when plainclothes policemen arrested him.
Standard.com report, which was shared by Access the TRUTH claimed that expelled Iglesia Ni Cristo member Lowell Menorca said on Tuesday that there is no overt and direct threat from the INC leaders to harm him and his family.
"Menorca made the admission before the Court of Appeals Seventh Division during the cross examination by lawyer Rogelio Vinluan, counsel for respondents INC officials, in connection with the petition for the writ of amparo and writ of habeas corpus filed by Menorca’s family accusing the INC leaders of allegedly holding him in custody against his will at the compound of the INC’s Central Office in Quezon City," the page posted.
Meanwhile, INC spokesperson Edwil Zabala clarified there's no written directive to its members to boycott ABS-CBN and other news organizations. “Walang circular na binasa sa pagsamba ukol sa issue na ’yan," Zabala told Inquirer.
As of press time, ABS-CBN is yet to release statement on this issue.
