Minority senators seek probe on planned airing of Chinese shows in PTV-4

The Senate minority bloc has sought an immediate investigation into the propriety of the Duterte administration's plan to air Filipino-dubbed Chinese shows and movies on the state-run People's Television Network (PTV-4) starting this August.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 780, they urged the appropriate committees in the Senate to look into the government's plan of airing Chinese shows which they believe may be "an insidious agenda" to advance the propaganda of the Chinese Communist Party.

"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 said.

The Senate minority bloc is composed of Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon, Senators Leila M. de Lima, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, Risa Hontiveros, Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, and Antonio "Sonny" Trillanes IV.

According to them, the airing of Chinese government's propaganda in the state-run media organization signifies what they said as a "clear and present danger of Chinese domination" in the Philippines.

Last June 13, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jinhua reportedly announced that Chinese TV series, documentaries, cartoons and movies, which are dubbed in Tagalog, will start airing on PTV-4 starting this coming August.

He said these Chinese shows may inspire Filipino viewers to learn how China attained "steady economic growth, improved their people's lives and have secured regional peace and security."

The minority senators, however, pointed out that the airing of these Chinese 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 said the government's plan may ultimately destroy the Filipino's democratic, pro-people, and religious culture and identity due to the continued tolerance and leniency of the government to Chinese intervention in the public's political and economic lives.

"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," they said.

Minority senators explained that the State should guarantee at all times a proper balance of information and news disseminating in the country, especially using the government-owned media network.

As such, they added, the PTV-4 is mandated to give due priority to television programs that foster patriotism and nationalism in every Filipino citizen, and not to pollute it with propaganda of a foreign government like the communist China.

Under Republic Act 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."