Speaker Cayetano hits Poe on ABS-CBN franchise denial's ‘chilling effect’

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday hit Senator Grace Poe for stating that the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise application would send a "chilling effect" to other media organizations, saying that this only applies to individuals who "abuse the system."

In a Facebook post, Cayetano told Poe to "just chill" as the "country is on the right track."

He dismissed as "completely false" the warnings of Poe, as well as of Vice President Leni Robredo, of the chilling effect caused by the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise application denial on journalists and the freedom of expression in general.

"I invite both the Vice President and our good Senator to read the decision, rewatch the hearings, and maybe come to understand that not breaking the law is not the same as obeying it," Cayetano said.

"The only 'chilling effect' the denial has are on those who would abuse the system and hold cavalier attitudes towards our laws, and even the Philippine Constitution," he added.

In a CNN Philippines interview on Monday, Poe said the media should not let the chilling effect of the House franchise panel's denial of the ABS-CBN Corporation's franchise application hinder them from exposing truth and criticisms against the government, for doing so will weaken institutions.

"I would say that it's foreboding. For many, this will be seen as a warning. Dapat bang matakot ang media? Sana huwag," she said. Dahil importante talaga ang trabaho ng media para mailahad ang nangyayari at ang taumbayan ang mismong magdedesisyon kung ito ba ay patas o hindi."

Poe also said in a separate statement on Friday that the House panel's decision had set a "high and unforgiving bar in approving franchises" which may also affect those currently holding active franchises.

Cayetano agreed with Poe that the denial of the ABS-CBN franchise application has set a precedent, that is, the House "will never tolerate anyone, including oligarchs, who will abuse the system and cheat both the government and our people."

He pointed out that while GMA, TV5, and many other media companies also underwent the same franchise application proceedings, these were approved "without a hitch" as their exercise of press freedom "never employed to mask the corporate practices of their owners that screwed the system and our people."

"While the newscast of their journalists were as feisty as ABS-CBN --- and in my case, even feistier at times --- their owners did not violate election laws nor sought to play Kingmaker, or Kingslayer," Cayetano said.

"I only hope that despite being the beneficiary of the network’s support - much like the Vice President did - you will still join us in fighting for what is right," he added.

On the eve of the House franchise panel's vote on the ABS-CBN franchise issue, Cayetano also slammed the involvement of mass media companies in elections and politics in general, saying that it was not how "press freedom" works.

"How shall we decide on claims that it will be a blow to press freedom if the owners of a private media corporation is denied the privilege of using public airwaves for a private business that protects their interest and supports their handpicked candidates, while targeting those who oppose them?" he said.

"I submit that this is not press freedom. It is the theft of government from the people while hiding under the pretense of press freedom," he added.

Cayetano also said that big business involved in commercial media must not be allowed to engage in partisan politics and let them use their powers to protect their interest, interfere in the elections, and support certain candidates "in the guise of reporting the news."

A total of 70 members of the House franchise committee voted to adopt the resolution of the technical working group it created recommending the denial of ABS-CBN's franchise application.

Network executives said they were saddened by the decision.

ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist against the network after its previous franchise expired the day before. — DVM, GMA News