ABS-CBN a victim of ‘pandemic of intolerance,’ says Poe

MANILA, Philippines — Senator Grace Poe on Friday slammed the decision of a House panel to deny ABS-CBN a new franchise, which she said has resulted in the loss of jobs and a source of information.

“The pandemic of intolerance has claimed another victim. As a result, thousands of breadwinners will lose their jobs, millions of their source of entertainment and information.”

After 12 hearings, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises decided to deny the franchise bid of the country’s biggest media network.

“The House has indeed set a high and unforgiving bar in approving franchises. This may affect current active franchises,” Poe said in a statement.

Poe chairs the Senate public services committee, which is tasked to hear franchise bills in the upper chamber.

“ABS-CBN is far from a perfect organization and has admitted to its many failings. But in its balance sheet of accomplishments, the good it had done for our people are valuable,” she said.

“The correct – and constitutional – response is to allow it to remedy them, the same chance extended to thousands of franchise applicants. This is so because a media organization that occasionally commits mistakes is in the nation’s interest than one that is permanently muzzled,” the senator pointed out.

She further said the denial of a franchise for ABS-CBN curtailed not only news programs but also entertainment shows which the senator said: “represent the finest in the craft, delight the public, and inspire our people to be the best.”

/MUF