Hontiveros re ABS-CBN's denial of franchise : “we have effectively begun to ring the death knell for freedom of the press in the country”

Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros was quick to make a statement regarding the denial of a new franchise for the Lopez controlled ABS-CBN Corporation and he called the denial to mean that “we have effectively begun to ring the death knell for freedom of the press in the country.”

She denounced the decision of the House Legislative Franchise Committee in denying the new franchise for the Kapamilya network, she calls on the public to make their voices heard against “this outrageous act of political persecution.”

“We must protect the cause of a free press in this country. We must not be afraid to hold those in power into account,” senator Hontiveros added.

Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros
(photo credit to owner)

She further warned that “[h]istory will be harsh to those who ignored the most basic needs of Filipinos during this pandemic and instead used it to consolidate power for selfish reasons.”

“Naniniwala ako na sa huli, maniningil ang mga anak natin. Maniningil ang kasaysayan,” she said.

Further the opposition senator said such denial of a new legislative franchise to ABS-CBN “has set a dangerous precedent.”

“Because the government allowed politicking in the process of renewing a legislative franchise and succeeded in the shutting down of a media institution, we have effectively begun to ring the death knell on press freedom in the country,” she stressed.

Hontiveros said the non-renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise “sends a chilling message to Filipino media practitioners and journalists in what she called as a form of” political persecution: “toe the line or get shut.”

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Report from PDI

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