The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines has called out the House Committee on Legislative Franchises for its inaction on the impending franchise renewal of ABS-CBN.
In a series of tweets Friday, February 7, the journalist group blasted the House Committee and its chairman Rep. Franz Alvarez for delaying the deliberation on the 11 franchise bills pending in Congress.
[Statement] What now, franchise committee?
Today, February 7, we stage our fourth Black Friday event to demand that Congress pass legislation renewing ABS-CBN's franchise and for government to respect freedom of the press and of expression.
— NUJP (@nujp) February 7, 2020
According to NUJP, they received reports from the Makabayan bloc that up until now, Rep. Alvarez has yet to calendar in his committee’s agenda, the franchise renewal of the Kapamilya network.
Over 170,000 Filipinos have signed the petition to renew the network's franchise.
However, with little over a month before the network's current franchise expires on March 20, members of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives report that—
— NUJP (@nujp) February 7, 2020
—the committee on legislative franchises chaired by Palawan Representative Franz Alvarez has yet to calendar the matter for discussion.
— NUJP (@nujp) February 7, 2020
NUJP said they see no reason for the delay and challenged the committee to act on his own as an independent co-equal branch of the government and do not be cowed by the threats from Malacanang.
We see no reason for this inordinate delay and once more challenge Congress to prove it is an independent and co-equal branch of government as envisioned by the Constitution and not a lapdog acquiescent to one man's whims.
— NUJP (@nujp) February 7, 2020
In conclusion, the group asked Congress to pass the renewal bill and proved their constitutional duty as defenders of the constitution if ever the President tried to veto the franchise renewal.
Pass the franchise renewal bill and let him veto it if he dares. And then prove yourselves worthy of being representatives of the people and defenders of their rights and liberties by overriding his veto.
Do what is right.
Sign the petition here:https://t.co/XCuWwdMw0M
— NUJP (@nujp) February 7, 2020
NUJP has been conducting Black Friday protests since January. The group aims to urge Congress to act swiftly on the ABS-CBN franchise renewal bills and to get support from the public via a signature campaign.
ABS-CBN’s franchise is due to expire in March 2020.
The Kapamilya network’s franchise renewal has been stalled in Congress since 2016 because of President Rodrigo Duterte’s repeated attacks on the media company.
Aside from NUJP, several Kapamilya stars have also come out in the open asking support for the network’s franchise renewal.
International journalist group Reporters Beyond Borders has also joined the growing calls for the media network’s franchise renewal.
