- NUJP started a signature campaign for ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
- Several media organizations showed support for ABS-CBN.
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) has launched a signature campaign aimed at calling Congress to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
In their Black Friday protest held January 17 at the Boy Scout Monument in Quezon City, NUJP said, “We call on Congress to do what is right and immediately pass the bill to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.”
ABS-CBN’s franchise is set to expire in March 2020. Currently, there are already 9 bills filed in Congress asking to renew ABS-CBN’s franchise.
Aside from NUJP, other media organizations also support ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal like AlterMidya, College Editors Guild of the Philippines, National Alliance of Broadcast Union, and the House of Representatives’ Makabayan bloc.
In a statement, NUJP Sec. Gen. Raymund Villanueva said the threat to ABS-CBN is not isolated as it can also be used to other media organizations in the future.
“Kung ang isang well-established, popular news and public affairs and media organization ng Pilipinas ay naba-blackmail, nagiging biktima ng gusto nilang pagbabago ng depinisyon ng press freedom, sino [ang] makakapagsabi na tayo, mga mamamamahayag, ay hindi rin magiging biktima sa susunod?” said Villanueva.
Bulatlat managing editor Len Olea meanwhile echoed concerns for the employees of the Kapamilya network whose jobs are in danger once they failed to secure the renewal.
“Ang nakikita natin, ang lubos na apektado ng ginagawang itong panggigipit ay mga katulad nating rank and file na mga empleyado, mga journalist, na nanganganib mawalan ng trabaho, hindi na rin alam kung anong mangyayari sa kanila sa mga susunod na mga buwan,” said Olea.
Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate, on the other hand, reiterated the issue of press freedom which is being threatened by Congress’ inaction on the franchise renewal bills.
“Hindi naman ito usapin ng kung ikaw ay Kapamilya, Kapuso, Kapatid. Ito ay usapin ng karapatan ng bawat mamamayang Pilipino na magkaroon ng independiyenteng pagtingin sa mga impormasyong dumadaloy sa libreng pamamahayag na magmumula sa ating mga miyembro sa media,” said Zarate
Meanwhile, UP Journalism professor Danilo Arao also joined the protest as reported by ABS-CBN broadcast journalist Ian Esguerra in a series of tweets.
Journalism professor Danilo Arao says Duterte attacks vs ABS-CBN not isolated, and are destructive to democracy pic.twitter.com/TwZAjfhcUe
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) January 17, 2020
Arao: Where's Duterte task force on media security now that ABS-CBN is under attack? pic.twitter.com/fEpBJoZFk7
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) January 17, 2020
Other media groups and journalists from different media organizations also joined the signature campaign in support of ABS-CBN.
ABS-CBN gets support from media groups in franchise renewal bid pic.twitter.com/1HjeSew68Y
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) January 17, 2020
Journalists sign petition urging Congress to extend ABS-CBN franchise pic.twitter.com/4mJloFmPjj
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) January 17, 2020
