ABS-CBN, TV5 drop merger deal

By Aric John Sy Cua  and Arlie O. Calalo 

RIVAL networks ABS-CBN and TV5 have called off the investment deal they signed earlier following an initiative in the House of Representatives to have the agreement investigated.

Competing cable companies Sky Cable and Cignal have also terminated their deal.

In a statement it released on Thursday, ABS-CBN said: "In disclosures to both the Philippine Stock Exchange and the Securities Exchange Commission today, Sky Vision Corporation ('Sky Vision'), ABS-CBN Corporation, Lopez Inc. and Cignal Cable Corporation ('Cignal Cable') announced that they have mutually agreed to terminate the sale and purchase agreement dated August 10, 2022."

The agreement involved the acquisition by Cignal Cable of a 38.88-percent equity interest in Sky Cable and the subscription by Cignal Cable to an "exchangeable debt instrument to be issued by Sky Vision and the proposed acquisition by Cignal Cable of a convertible note issued by Sky Cable."

ABS-CBN said that the termination was formalized through a memorandum of agreement.

In a separate disclosure, the two networks said they have "mutually agreed to terminate" their agreement covering the proposed acquisition by ABS-CBN of 34.99-percent equity interest in TV5 and the subscription by ABS-CBN to a "convertible note" to be issued by TV5.

TV5 has been broadcasting some ABS-CBN shows after the franchise of the former media flagship of the Lopezes was not renewed in 2020.

The two networks then revealed they were working out some kind of a merger.

Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta, who was at the forefront of the campaign to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise, promptly declared he will have the House investigate the deal.

Another critic of the merger, lawyer Lorenzo "Larry" Gadon, said on Thursday TV5 might have eventually realized that the agreement could jeopardize the company's future.

"What cannot be done directly, cannot be done indirectly," Gadon told The Manila Times.

"The TV5-ABS-CBN deal on the sale of 35 percent stockholdings may cause the revocation of the franchise of TV5 or may cause the denial of its application for a renewal once its franchise expires," he said.

Gadon ran for senator last May under the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan, the party of the father of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr., former president Ferdinand E. Marcos.

He said that because the ABS-CBN is tainted with foreign funds, "the whole equity of TV5 will also become tainted with foreign funds."

Such a merger will also violate the constitutional requirement that a mass media organization must be fully Filipino owned, he said.

Person with HIV lauds new AIDS law

By: Marc Jayson Cayabyab (The Philippine Star)

MANILA, Philippines — A person living with HIV lauded the passage of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act, which sets a human rights approach to address the spread of the disease and eliminate discrimination.

In an interview with Cignal TV / One News’ “The Chiefs” that aired yesterday, Billy Santo said he can now enjoy a normal life as a financial adviser for an insurance company.

He recounted his struggle with discrimination since he was diagnosed at the age of 23, brought about by his stint as a sex worker at 17 to make ends meet.

Republic Act 11166 seeks to amend the old law “Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 1998” where people living with HIV are not as protected from the stigma and discrimination, according to Anastacio Marasigan, executive director of TLF Share.

Santo said the old law, where minors were not allowed to undergo HIV testing without the consent of their parents, prohibited him from seeking treatment at a young age. He was also orphaned at an early age.

“The youth can really have the benefit from this new law. Given the fact that I was young and did not have access to these services and treatment, it prevented me from seeking treatment. It became a barrier for me,” Santo said.

Under the new law, a minor who would like to get tested need not get consent from his parents or guardians.

The new law is also anchored on the rights of people living with HIV to be protected from discrimination and to avail themselves of basic social services despite their condition.

Santo recalled the time he was fired from his job because his superior, who was pregnant at the time, was afraid of contracting HIV from him.

“I faced a lot of discrimination… When I was pushed down to my limit, this is when I said, this is enough. I need to stand up and show people I am still a human being capable of being loved, to live and to work,” Santo said.

The new law even included among the prohibited discriminatory acts the denial of burial services.

Santo said he heard of a case a year ago that a person who died of HIV was refused embalming services in the morgue. The person was also put inside a garbage bag and the casket was wrapped in plastic.