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We, the undersigned journalists, editors and workers from different media organizations, express our solidarity with thousands of our colleagues in ABS-CBN who risk losing their jobs after the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises denied the network a fresh 25-year franchise.
We condemn the unjust and cruel decision of the House committee that threatens the livelihood of workers as we are facing uncertainties due to the pandemic.
One media outfit shut down because of the whims and trivialities of those in power is one too many, especially at a time when the public needs credible and independently verified information to make informed choices.
The role of a journalist in a democratic society is to keep the people well-informed to allow them to be free and self-governing, not to serve as any administration’s publicist.
The rejection of ABS-CBN’s franchise bill sounds the death knell to a credible source of news and a huge attack on press freedom in the country.
In denying the network of a franchise, the 70 lawmakers clearly want to treat the press as a propaganda machine that will serve their political interests, embellish their image, and parrot their spin.
History will surely be cruel to the lawmakers who voted against the franchise renewal of a network that was last shut down during the Marcos dictatorship.
The only “historic” deed they were able to accomplish is to make the chamber a pawn for carrying out a personal vendetta.
Victory came easy for the forces that conspired to bring down ABS-CBN. But the rehabilitation of the image of those condemned by history won’t, as it will be fraught with the collective wrath of a people who live by democracy and the rule of law.
July 13, 2020