Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 9) – As the voting on ABS-CBN’s bid for franchise renewal draws near, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano warned that “big business” could use the media in influencing public opinion to protect interests.
“But even as we guard against the abuses of public officials, and the peculiar sacred place that ‘free press’ holds in our consciousness, blinds us to the fact that big business is just as likely to use media and mold public opinion and perception as the meanest tyrant,” said Cayetano as the House of Representatives continued its inquiry on the broadcasting network’s application for legislative franchise.
He added that a private business should not meddle in political partisanship through media.
“Big business, conjoined with commercial media, should not be allowed to engage in partisan politics by wielding its power to protect its interest, meddle and interfere in elections, and surreptitiously support certain candidates in the guise of reporting the news,” said Cayetano.
One of the issues thrown at ABS-CBN was its alleged biased reporting. Critics, including Cayetano, have called out the network for the alleged unfair airtime it gave to some candidates during the 2016 elections.
ABS-CBN Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak admitted that the network failed to air political campaigns of some candidates in some areas, but it never favored any candidate.
Cayetano said that it is hard to confirm if it is an issue on press freedom if private businesses “protect their interests and supports their handpicked candidates, while targeting those who oppose them.”
“I submit that this is not press freedom. It is the theft of government from the people while hiding under the pretense of press freedom,” he said.
On the other hand, the chamber had a summation earlier of all the issues concerning the television giant. A technical working group was formed to discuss the recommendations regarding ABS-CBN’s application for another 25-years of franchise to operate.
READ: ABS-CBN News chief maintains the network keeps its biases ‘in check’
