Senate newsmen slam ‘brazen attempts to curtail press freedom’

MANILA, Philippines — Reporters covering the Senate have joined other press corps in expressing support for their colleagues in ABS-CBN as they condemned the “brazen attempts to curtail” press freedom and the Filipino public’s right to information.

“We, the reporters covering the Senate, condemn the brazen attempts to curtail press freedom and the Filipinos’ right to information with the efforts to shut down ABS-CBN on flimsy grounds,” the Senate reporters said in a statement on Thursday.

“We stand by our colleagues in ABS-CBN and we will do our utmost to defend them and the freedom of the press, a vital part of a healthy democracy,” they added.

Earlier this week, the Office of the Solicitor General sought the revocation of the media giant’s legislative franchise through a quo warrant petition filed before the Supreme Court.

Solicitor General Jose Calida cited “highly abusive practices” of the network “benefiting a greedy few at the expense of millions of its loyal subscribers.”

ABS-CBN, however, maintained it did not violate any law governing its franchise and that it had secured all necessary approvals for its business operations.

“We also see these attempts as an insult to the intelligence of the Filipino people, who are constantly bombarded with disinformation that the mainstream media has been trying to fight,” the Senate reporters stated.

In the Senate, a recently filed resolution is seeking to conduct a hearing into the compliance of the ABS-CBN with the terms and conditions of its franchise.

Simultaneously, nine bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN remains pending in the House of Representatives.

If the network’s franchise is not granted, it would have to close down its TV and radio operations by March 30, 2020.

Edited by EDV