MANILA, Philippines — Despite his family’s previous issue with media giant ABS-CBN, former vice president Jejomar Binay maintains his support for the network saying that freedom of the press is the “basic foundation of democracy.”
“Alam mo, yan ang kabutihan ng tunay na demokrasya. Mayroong bumabatikos, mayroong nagsasabi sa tao na may kamaliang nangyayari (That is what is good about democracy. You have people who criticize and tell the public if something is wrong),” Binay told reporters on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 34th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution in Makati City.
To recall, Binay’s daughter, Nancy—who currently sits as a senator—earlier shared her belief that her family was not fairly treated by the network.
People Power veterans gather at the Ninoy Aquino Monument in Makati City to commemorate the 34th anniversary of the bloodless revolution that toppled former president Ferdinand Marcos. INQUIRER.net photo / Neil Arwin Mercado
Despite this, the senator said she will vote for the renewal of the network’s franchise because “it’s not about me,” adding that freedom of information and access to information are more important.
In 1972, media giant ABS-CBN was shut down following President Ferdinand Marcos’ declaration of martial law. Today, the media giant is facing another issue as it continues with its bid to have its franchise to operate renewed for another 25 years.
Binay, who was one of the prominent personalities in the Edsa People Power Revolution that toppled the administration of the late former president Ferdinand Marcos, said he has always been supportive of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
“Freedom of the press, basic foundation yan ng demokrasya (Freedom of the press is a basic foundation of democracy),” Binay said.
“Simple lang naman yan eh, ayaw na [ng pamahalaan] na magkaroon ng isang ABS-CBN na ipakita na may freedom of the press (That’s simple, the government does not want to have an ABS-CBN to show that there is press freedom),” he added.
Binay was among the veterans of the Edsa People Power Revolution who attended the commemoration at the Ninoy Aquino Statue in Makati City.
They offered flowers and sang “Bayan Ko”, one of the most popular anthems of those who opposed the Marcos regime.