Tell it to SunStar: Non-renewal of franchise?

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s recent remarks on the fast-approaching deadline for the franchise renewal of the biggest network in this country was an assurance that it will not be renewed after March 2020. Alto Broadcasting System-Chronicle Broadcasting Network (ABS-CBN) has been in hot water for not airing Duterte’s political ads during the 2016 Presidential election campaign.

He also reiterated his allegations that ABS-CBN showed biases in broadcasting the black propaganda ads of former senator Antonio Trillanes, which featured children criticizing the trash-talking former mayor’s behavior. This is also a violation to Section 2, Article 8 of the 2007 Broadcast Code, which stipulates that there shall be no program or sponsor who shall be allowed to manifestly favor or oppose any candidate or political party. This is also true with Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act.

Even though that former Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano secured a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) way back on May 7, 2016 over the black propaganda, his threats are still true until today. The President said he will urge Congress not to renew or make any legislative sessions on the TV station’s franchise. ABS-CBN kept its mouth shut on the issue as the threat continues over its network.

The network’s current franchise was approved through RA 7966 way back on March 30, 1995. It is set to expire on March 30, 2020. If there’s no bill and law seeking the renewal, the network can’t do anything, but stop all of its operations. The President’s rant on the network should only be in a form of expression, threatening them with his power and influence as a President should be out of this issue.

If the President could not help himself from issuing his threats, the role of Congress here is decisive. Even though the President is assuring not to renew the franchise, Congress must observe independence and must abide by due process.

It should not act as a rubber-stamp to the executive branch despite that both Houses are dominated by administration allies. If an entire media giant would be closed due to political vagary, it could be a signal of the beginning of another persecution of the State on press freedom in this country’s generation. (Jake Flourence Camasura)