‘MANININGIL ANG KASAYSAYAN’ | Opposition lawmakers condemn ABS-CBN franchise non-renewal

July 10, 2020 , 04:30 PM

(July 10, 2020) – Minority lawmakers from the lower and upper chambers of Congress condemned their colleagues who rejected broadcast media giant ABS-CBN’s bid for a new franchise on Friday.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises overwhelmingly voted to deny the franchise, 70-11. Two inhibited, while one abstained. Only 44 were needed to pass the resolution.

Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman called the decision a “foregone conclusion”, despite the 74-year old network’s efforts to answer multiple allegations in twelve hearings.

“The Technical Working Group (TWG) was part of the charade,” Lagman added, questioning how they were able to form a resolution in less than 24 hours to recommend the rejection of a fresh 25-year franchise.

“Not one of these sections WAS proved to have been violated by ABS-CBN.”

The rejection came after President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated castigations of the network for supposedly not airing his campaign ads for the 2016 elections. The president also rued the network’s biased reporting against his administration.

“The TWG findings are a complete departure from the official position and statements of the departments, agencies, offices and independent organizations invited to the joint committee hearings. The TWG recommendation for a resolution denying the franchise is a departure from truth, justice, and reason,” Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun said.

Senator Grace Poe lamented the decision which is likely to affect the network’s 11,000 employees.

“The correct – and constitutional – response is to allow it to remedy them, the same chance extended to thousands of franchise applicants,” Poe said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon likened the move by Duterte’s allies to the ABS-CBN shutdown in 1972, when then-President Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. But Drilon said he is confident that the network can bounce back through appeals or another franchise application.

“ABS-CBN has been through this before during martial law in 1972. I am confident that it can face this difficult trial once more,” Drilon said.

Senator Risa Hontiveros warned that the non-renewal of the franchise is a dangerous precedent against the press.

“The political persecution of ABS-CBN sends a chilling message to Filipino media practitioners and journalists: toe the line or get shut down,” she said.

“Naniniwala ako na sa huli, maniningil ang mga anak natin. Maniningil ang kasaysayan.” (Katrina Elaine Alba/AGD)

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