Filtered By: Topstories
News

Journalists decry quo warranto petition vs ABS-CBN


Foreign correspondents and campus journalists on Monday denounced the government’s quo warranto petition against broadcast network ABS-CBN.

In a statement, the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) hailed ABS-CBN as a “cornerstone of Philippine democracy and the free press for its independent and critical reportage.”

“These moves politically harass and threaten a pillar of the media industry that employs thousands of Filipinos and has played a crucial part in helping fight official corruption and abuse for decades,” they added.

The FOCAP called on Congress to act independently in its review of ABS-CBN’s franchise and on Supreme Court justices to side with democracy.

In their statement, the College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) condemned the quo warranto petition as an effort by the Duterte Administration to “silence the freedom of the press.”

“Duterte can ban his staunch critics and even close as many media organizations as he can, but he can never put to an end to the people's growing resistance against his murderous and callous regime,” they said.

Earlier on Monday, Calida filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN for its alleged “highly abusive practices.” 

The broadcast network's franchise was set to expire on March 30, 2020. — DVM, GMA News

LOADING CONTENT