Other groups also voiced out their disappointment about the decision
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 10) — National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) chairman Nonoy Espina said democracy was killed with the decision of the House of Representatives to deny fresh 25-year franchise to media giant ABS-CBN.
“Talagang pinatay ang demokrasya ngayong araw,” Espina told CNN Philippines Newsroom Ngayon. “Ang hirap tanggapin na may dahilan silang matino sa ginawa nila ngayong araw.”
[Translation: Democracy was killed today. It is hard to accept that they have a good reason for what they did today.]
Espina also said the decision was expected ever since President Rodrigo Duterte threatened to block the franchise renewal of the network after it did not air his paid presidential campaign ad in 2016.
READ: Duterte to ABS-CBN: Next year, you’re out
Espina also called the lawmakers traitors to democracy and to the people, and questioned their claim that the issue is not related to freedom of the press or expression.
“Paanong hindi magiging freedom of the press ang issue (How can the issue not be about freedom of the press)… The mere fact that they say it is not a freedom of the press issue, makes it a freedom of the press issue, ” he said.
Espina added: . “This was… them getting back at a station because ayaw nila siguro nung istilo ng pagre-report. Ayaw nilang binabantayan sila. Ayaw nila ng kritikal na pamamahayag (they do not like the style of reporting. They do not like to be watched. They do not like critical journalism).”
Deliberations for the new franchise started early this year. With 70-11 votes, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises denied consolidated bills which would have granted ABC-CBN a new license to resume broadcast operations.
READ: House panel denies ABS-CBN’s bid for fresh franchise
Kilusang Mayo Uno said in a statement on Friday that it was “an affront to press freedom everywhere” and that this shows that a media organization must not displease Duterte “or his minions or else they can be shut down.”
It added that this deprives Filipinos of their right to information, especially during a pandemic.
Human Rights Watch Philippines shared the sentiment, saying the decision was “a grievous assault on press freedom in the country.”
Akbayan Youth said the government is “sabotaging itself” by shutting down the media giant.
“At a time where the free flow of information is important, closing down the country’s biggest TV station will force a lot of communities to face the pandemic blind,” Akbayan Youth chairman RJ Naguit said in statement.
It added this solidifies the tyranny of the president, while the denial of the franchise shows the “obsequious behavior” of the lawmakers to Duterte by agreeing to limit press freedom.
