FOR now, it’s improbable that they will ever get a chance to act on the franchise of ABS-CBN, but that didn’t stop senators from weighing in on the stunning House committee vote to reject the giant network’s application on Friday, throwing out 11,000 workers in the middle of an economically crippling pandemic.
“I share the hurt and heartbreak in every Filipino home, and the tears of more than 11,000 workers who were denied of hope,” said Sen. Nancy Binay in a statement, after the House franchises committee voted 70-11, with one abstention and two inhibitions, to reject the grant of a franchise to the Lopez-led network.
“I can only ask our leaders what their plans are for the thousands of workers who have lost their jobs. [In these times, people need more than ever to feel their government cares for them],” added Binay, who two days before the vote had exhorted House of Representatives members to act according to conscience on a matter that she said was “bigger than ourselves” because it involved upholding press freedom in a democracy. Binay’s remarks got noticed because her political family had been on the receiving end of what is seen as “biased” reporting in the months before the 2016 electioons.
Binay had words of comfort for the network, which President Duterte had publicly called out, in a speech in December 2019, where he vowed he will “see to it” that “you’re out” in 2020, when the franchise expires.
Binay said: “To the ABS-CBN Family, what hurts you today will make you even stronger tomorrow. The die may have been cast, but it’s never the end.”
‘Pandemic of intolerance’
Senator Grace Poe, on learning about the House committee decision, rued that “the pandemic of intolerance has claimed another victim.”
Poe, who chairs the Senate counterpart Committee on Public Services tasked to review franchises, lamented that the House action, if not reversed, means that “thousands of breadwinners will lose their jobs, and millions (of viewers) their source of entertainment and information.”
Poe pointed out that “ABS-CBN is far from a perfect organization, and has admitted to its many failings. But in its balance sheet of accomplishments, the good it had done for our people are valuable.”
The senator suggested that “the correct – and constitutional – response is to allow it to remedy them, the same chance extended to thousands of franchise applicants.”
She explained this is so “because a media organization that occasionally commits mistakes is in the nation’s interest than one that is permanently muzzled.”
“It is not just news that is curtailed but entertainment shows which represent the finest in the craft, delight the public, and inspire our people to be the best, the lawmaker lamented.
Poe noted that “the House has indeed set a high and unforgiving bar in approving franchises,” adding that “this may affect current active franchises.
Senate Minority Leader Frank Drilon deplored the House committee decision to disapprove the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN, admitting he was “deeply saddened by this episode in the history of our nation,” as he recalled the House panel’s action was “reminiscent of the dark pages in the history of Philippine press in 1972.”
In a statement, Drilon stressed that democracy thrives when there is a free press and when journalists can exercise complete freedom to do their mandate of reporting facts without fear. But with what happened to ABS-CBN, he added, it has shown that the “sword of Damocles” can be unleashed any time.
“After monitoring the exhaustive proceedings in the House of Representatives, I am more convinced that the only fault of ABS-CBN is it stepped on some powerful political toes, hence the sword has been unleashed on it,” says Drilon.
Sword of Damocles
At the same time, the Senate Minority Leader warned that “the sword of Damocles will continue to hang perilously over other media networks,” noting that “both the legislators and the executive can wield the sword at their whim and caprice. This is when democracy starts to weaken.”
In the face of a global pandemic, Drilon stressed the people “need more access to information” and the ABS-CBN complements other stations in providing “timely and accurate reportage even in the farthest locality unreachable to others, even to the government.”
He aired optimisn that the ABS-CBN as an institution “can survive this episode, no doubt, but the people whose livelihood depends on the network are the real casualties of this unfortunate and politically-charged event.”
Drilon deplored the prospect that 11,000 ABS-CBN workers losing jobs next month have families to feed, rent and mortgages to pay and children to send to schools.
“They will suffer the consequences of the decision of the House of Representatives,” Drilon said, adding “this could have been avoided had the Congress granted the franchise renewal of the broadcasting network.”
Drilon earlier filed a resolution to extend the ABS-CBN until December of 2022 but the Senate, unfortunately, can no longer act on it and other bills seeking to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN due to Constitutional limitations.
Recalling that “ABS-CBN has been through this before during martial law in 1972,” the Senate Minority Leader remained confident that “it can face this difficult trial once more.
“To prevent this from happening in the future, I urge Congress to immediately enact Senate Bill No. 1530, which I filed, seeking the non-expiration of a franchise whose renewal has been filed and remained pending in Congress,” said Drilon, adding that the pending bill was crafted to “encourage Congress to act decisively on an application for renewal, and to express its decision in clear, unmistakable terms, ensuring that the applicant is not punished for the authority’s indecision or inaction.”
Angara: Govt agencies cleared network
For his part, Sen. Sonny Angara noted how, in the 12 hearings conducted by the committee, “many government agencies attested that ABS-CBN has no violations, contrary to what others are saying.”
He warned that the economic fallout will hit not just the media or broadcasting industry where ABS-CBN is a leader, but also the larger economy — advertising and creative industries or pursuits- producing, editing, music scoring, acting, directing, set design, among others.
The House decision will also hurt press freedom, Angara said.
Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan called the decision a “death sentence” that dooms not just big business but also the livelihood of 11,000 workers and their families.
Pangilinan noted the folly of “taking away the jobs of 11,000 people” during a pandemic that has displaced 7 million workers.
Image credits: AP/Aaron Favila