Senate minority seeks probe on PTV-4’s planned airing of Chinese programs

FILE: On June 13, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua announced that the state-run media will be airing Chinese television series, cartoons, documentaries, and movies dubbed in Tagalog. (TOTO LOZANO/Presidential Photo)

The Senate minority bloc on Monday, July 9, called for an immediate inquiry into the plan of the Duterte administration to air Chinese television series and movies on the government-owned People’s Television Network (PTV-4) beginning next month.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon and Senators Leila M. de Lima, Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, and Antonio “Sonny” Trillanes IV filed Senate Resolution No. 780, urging the committee on public information and mass media to lead an investigation into the administration’s plan, which they believe may be “an insidious agenda” to advance the Chinese Communist Party’s propaganda.

“Airing Chinese shows on our state-run (media) network poses a danger of spreading Chinese propaganda sanctioned by our government through our official media stations,” the resolution read.

The opposition senators further believed that the airing of such shows in PTV-4 signifies what they said as a “clear and present danger of Chinese domination” in the country.

On June 13, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua announced that the state-run media will be airing Chinese television series, cartoons, documentaries, and movies dubbed in Tagalog.

The ambassador believed that a “new window” is opened to millions of Filipinos to better understand Beijing, its people, their long history, rich culture, daily lives, endeavor, and dreams.

However, the minority senators stressed that the airing of these shows may subtly inculcate among the Filipinos the authoritarian, one-party state, anti-democratic, and atheist ideology and principles of the Chinese Communist Party.

They added that this plan may ultimately destroy the Filipino’s democratic, pro-people, and religious culture and identity.

“It is incumbent upon the government to shield the broadcast industry from any form of intrusive and invasive foreign agenda of domination, control, and brainwashing of the Filipino people, be it subtle or explicit,” it added.

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 7306, also known as the Charter of the People’s Television Network, Incorporated, PTV-4 is mandated to “develop the broadcasting industry as a medium for development, promotion and advancement of Filipino nationalism, culture and values that serve as an instrument in the struggled for Filipino sovereignty, identity, national unity and integration.”

Therefore, the state-run media should not pollute it with the propaganda of a foreign government such as Beijing, according to the lawmakers.

This television partnership came amid the Philippines’ dispute with China over the West Philippine Sea (WPS), with some Chinese fisherman reported to have taken the catch of the local fishermen, even getting the best ones, in Scarborough (Panatag) Shoal.

There were also reports that Chinese fisherfolks have been getting giant clams and have destroyed coral reefs in the resource-rich area.