Vice President Leni Robredo has urged lawmakers to defend press freedom and called the move to revoke the franchise of ABS-CBN through a quo warranto petition an ‘abuse of power’.
“Ang kalayaan ng pamamahayag ay hindi lamang tungkol sa kalayaang magsalita. Tungkol din ito sa karapatan ng sambayanang marinig ang katotohanan sa buong lawak nito, at matukoy ang kolektibo nating pinahahalagahan bilang bansa,” Robredo said in a statement.
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She also said that it’s important for the public to closely monitor the harassment on the network’s franchise.
“Linawin natin: Taliwas sa karaniwang proseso ng pag-renew ng prangkisa ang nangyayari. Panggigipit ito, ayon sa pansariling agenda ng iilang nasa poder. Samakatuwid: Pang-aabuso ito ng kapangyarihan,” she said.
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Robredo warned that if the administration can do it to a television giant, then it can also go after small networks, radio stations and even social media.
“Hinihimok natin ang lahat— pangunahin na ang mga Kinatawan sa Kongreso, kung saan nakatalaga ang kapangyarihang mag-renew ng prangkisa— na makiisa sa pangangalaga ng kalayaan ng pamamahayag,” Robredo said.
