MANILA - Directors Guild of the Philippines (DGPI) board member Joel Lamangan described the order to shut down the TV and radio broadcast operations of ABS-CBN as a “direct affront to freedom of expression.”

In an interview with ANC on Thursday, the veteran director said freedom of expression is mandated by the Constitution and preventing one from exercising it is a clear violation of human rights.

Watch more in iWantv or TFC.tv

“Ito ay pagyurak sa karapatan sa pamamahayag at pagpapahayag. It is stated in the Constitution, naroon ang karapatan natin na iyon. Kapag hindi binigay ang karapatan na iyon, 'yun ay pagyurak sa ating Saligang Batas,” he said.

Lamangan also called out the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for reneging on its previous statement under oath that it would grant ABS-CBN, the country's leading media and entertainment company, a provisional authority to operate pending its franchise renewal.

With this unfortunate development, Lamangan said everyone should be vigilant on what else the government could do especially during this uncertain time.

“Ang ano man pagyurak sa ating karapatan sa pamamahayag ay dapat nating labanan. If they can do this to ABS-CBN which is a very big and giant broadcast company, paano na 'yung maliliit na broadcast company? How sure are we na hindi iyan magagawa sa kanila,” he said.

More than being the largest platform where filmmakers can showcase their work, Lamangan said ABS-CBN’s job is also vital as the country faces a crisis because it is a source of reliable information.

“Kailangan natin ang malalaking broadcasting company kagaya ng ABS-CBN. Kung kailan mayroon tayong problema, saka nila aalisin. Ano ba ang ating kaaway, ABS-CBN ba o ang COVID-19?” he said.

For him, the NTC should have given the network a provisional authority to continue its service to the whole nation. He also called out Congress for not acting on ABS-CBN’s application for franchise renewal swiftly.

“Ang Kongreso ang umupo diyan at hindi ibinigay ang prangkisa. Dapat gumawa ng paraan ang Kongreso sapagkat alam na nila na mawawala na ang karapatang mag-broadcast. Gumawa sila ng paraan upang mapahaba pa ang pagbo-broadcast lalo na ngayon sa panahon ng pandemya. Inutos iyan dahil lamang sa palagay ko ay alam nila na ayaw ng ating Pangulo na magbukas ang ABS-CBN. Lahat sila ay kinakailangan pagbigyan ang gusto ng Pangulo na parusahan ang ABS-CBN,” he said.

With the current situation of the country, Lamangan said government authorities should be more concerned of societal needs than their personal interests.

“Dapat ang kapakanan ng taumbayan ang tinitignan, hindi ang interes o kapakanan o pagsama ng loob ng sino mang tao, kundi ang kapakanan ng maraming tao. Sa panahon ng pandemya, kailangan nating malaman ang nangyayari sa kapuluan. Malaki ang naitutulong ng ABS-CBN sa bagay na ito. Ang ano mang uri nang pagsasamantala sa ating karapatan sa pagpapahayag at pamamahayag ay dapat tinututulan,” he said.

The filmmaker said it is very unfortunate that with the shutdown of ABS-CBN, more employees are in danger of losing jobs.