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Denial of ABS-CBN's franchise application, dark day for journalism - Malacañang Press Corps


The denial of the franchise application of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises is "yet another assault on press freedom in the country," says the Malacañang Press Corps.

"Today is a dark day for journalism," the organization of journalists regularly covering the President and Malacañang activities said in a statement.

"We deplore the blatant and arrogant abuse of power. This is a warning to the press: do not offend the powers that be. One less watchdog is one step towards tyranny," the group added.

The Committee on Friday voted to deny ABS CBN's franchise application, as it opted to adopt the Technical Working Group’s (TWG) Committee Resolution recommending the denial of the network's franchise application through 70 yes votes, 11 no votes, and three who did not participate.

The TWG report that ABS-CBN violated its old franchise, described by the panel as a privilege, because of the following reasons: its former Chairman Eugenio Lopez III was both a Filipino and American citizen, the issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts supposedly favoring foreigners, inappropriate program content, meddling in politics, tax avoidance schemes; less than exemplary labor practices, among others.

"We grieve for the public. In this pandemic, we need more media organizations, not less, to inform the public of the dangers and risks of COVID-19 and how the government is responding to the crisis, and to make them accountable for their missteps," the Malacañang Press Corps said.

The group also pointed out that network employees are in danger of losing their jobs as the country is in the thick of efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

The organization pledged its support for the Network's "fight against this State-backed repression of private media." 

"While we grieve, we are not cowed. We are more emboldened to carry the torch to carry out our mission to inform the public and keep power in check," the group said.

"A thousand little cuts do not make us weak, these only make us stronger. History is never kind to tyrants," they added. -- BAP, GMA News

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