Celebrities, supporters join campaign for ABS-CBN franchise renewal

Celebrities, fans, and supporters have joined a signature campaign urging Congress to renew the broadcasting franchise of television network ABS-CBN.

Among those who signed for the 1 million signature petition launched by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) via petition site Change.org are celebrities Lea Salonga, Anne Curtis, Vice Ganda, and Ogie Alcasid.

The petition has garnered 128,275 signatures as of posting. An on-ground signature campaign is also making rounds.

In a Twitter post, Salonga said she has "personal and professional reasons" for supporting the cause, while It's Showtime! host Curtis fear that a franchise non-renewal means many ABS-CBN employees will lose their jobs.

NUJP said the signature campaign is a challenge to Congress to prove its independence by approving the media network's franchise extension and leaving its fate to President Rodrigo Duterte, who has repeatedly threatened to block the renewal.

"We're challenging Congress not to be a rubber stamp because they shouldn't be a rubber stamp," NUJP chairman Nonoy Espina said.

"Given the time we have, we need to ramp it up but we do hope that we could reach 1 million," he added.

Lawmakers have yet to act on bills seeking another 25-year franchise for the network with only 23 regular session days left until its expiry.

Espina explained that the threats against ABS-CBN are also threats to press freedom.

"I hope the people understand that when we say freedom of the press, it's not just about the freedom of the media. It's about the freedom of the people to receive vital information so they can decide on our collective future," he said.

"I think the issue is resounding to people," he added.

A man signs a petition after a protest by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines calling for Congress to extend ABS-CBN Corp.’s franchise which is set to expire at the end of March this year, Jan. 17, 2019. Alec Corpuz, ABS-CBN News

Actress Liza Soberano earlier appealed to President Duterte earlier this month to reconsider his stand on the media giant's franchise renewal.

Duterte last Dec. 30 said owners of ABS-CBN should just sell the network.

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/01/21/20/celebrities-supporters-join-campaign-for-abs-cbn-franchise-renewal