Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo would not let
this just past without showing her support for the beleaguered media outfit –
ABS-CBN.
Robredo calls the move of the Office of the Solicitor General
(OSG) as against ABS-CBN is an act of "harassment" and "abuse of
power".
The move was seen as controversial because Congress as
mandated by the Philippine Constitution is the only governmental body that can
grant or renew legislative franchises of media outfit.
 |
| Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo (photo credit to owner) |
"Panggigipit ito, ayon sa
pansariling agenda ng iilang nasa poder. Samakatuwid, pang-aabuso ito ng
kapangyarihan," the Vice President said in a statement.
(This is harassment, based on
the personal agenda of a few people in position. Therefore, this is an abuse of
power.)
The Vice President even said that Press freedom involves
the right to express oneself, as well as the right of the public to hear the
truth and determine what they value as a country.
"Mahalagang bantayan ang
kasalukuyang panggigipit sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN dahil higit sa lahat tungkol
ito sa kapangyarihan: Sino ang magtatakda ng totoo at ng mahalaga?" she
said.
(It is important to watch the
ongoing harassment on the franchise of ABS-CBN because above all, this is about
power: Who will dictate the truth and what is important?)
"Kapag sinamsam ng
gobyerno ang kapangyarihang ito, sinasamsam din nila ang kolektibong tungkulin
nating kilatisin ang katotohanan," hse added.
(If the government seizes this power, it will also seize
our collective duty to examine the truth.)
She warns that if allowed, other media outlet and the
public may befall the same fate.
"Ang itanong nga po natin:
Kung nagagawa ito sa pinakamakapangyarihang network sa ating bansa, gaano pa
katagal para magawa ito sa iba pang mas malilit na network, sa mga pahayagan at
istasyon ng radyo, at pati na sa sari-sarili nating mga social media feed,
upang madiktahan tayo ng kung ano ang totoo at mahalaga?" she said.
(Let us ask: if this can be
done to the most powerful network in our country, how long will it be until
this is done to other smaller networks, publications, radio stations, and even
our own social media feeds, so we could be dictated on what is true and
important?)
The public, she said, should
urge lawmakers to stand by press freedom.
"Malinaw po ang tawag sa
atin ng prinsipyo: Itaguyod ang kalayaan, isulong ang karapatan, at bantayan
ang katotohanan," she said.
(The call of principle to us is
clear: champion freedom, push for rights, and guard the truth.)
What can you say about this?
Share
us your thoughts by simply leaving on the comment section below. For more news
updates, feel free to visit our site often.
Stay
updated with today's relevant news and trends by hitting the LIKE button.
Thanks
for dropping by and reading this post.
Report from ABS-CBN News
Disclaimer: Contributed
articles does not reflect the view of THE PH CHRONICLES.
This website cannot guarantee the legitimacy of some of the information
contributed to us. You may do additional research if you find some information
doubtful. No part of this article maybe reproduced without permission
from this website.
0 Comments