BANAT | Leni Robredo sinupalpal ang Duterte gov't tungkol sa ABS CBN Franchise renewal 'harassment, abuse of power!'

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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". This after Solicitor General Jose Calida filed a quo warranto proceeding asking the High Court to revoke the ABS-CBN franchise for alleged “abuses” it has done.

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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.

"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.

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(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.

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(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.)

Report from  ABS-CBN News

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