12 May 2020
The signing off of broadcast network ABS-CBN not only endangers the employment of its 11,000 workers but, just as important, if not more so, affects the lives of citizens as well.
Government clearly trampled on freedom of the press and of expression when it forced the network to go off air.
ABS-CBN, in its petition for certiorari filed on May 7 before the Supreme Court, said that the cease and desist order against its operations violates the right of the public to information and is a curtailment of the freedom of speech and the press.
We affirm our signatures to appeal to the following government agencies to bring Channel 2, DZMM, MOR, and Channel 23 back on air:
TO THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION to withdraw the cease and desist order against ABS-CBN as this is a disservice to the Filipino people, especially at this time of crisis.
TO THE SUPREME COURT to uphold press freedom and to grant the temporary restraining order for the ABS-CBN units to go back on air to continue serving the public amid the coronavirus pandemic.
TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES to grant ABS-CBN a fresh 25-year franchise. Eleven bills seeking its renewal are now pending and are just waiting to be heard.
During the coronavirus pandemic, there should be free access to information, entertainment, and public service. Our appeal to bring Channel 2, DZMM, MOR and Channel 23 back on air upholds the peoples’ right to information from which press freedom emanates.
#LabanKapamilya #NoToABSCBNShutdown
The organizations listed below launched an online petition today to call to bring ABS-CBN back on air.
The closure of the network was both a brazen assault on the critical media and on the people’s right to know and of choice.
The petition can be accessed here:
Supporting organizations:
1. Alternative Media Network
2. Alyansa ng Kabataang Mamamahayag ng PUP
3. Asian Center for Journalism
4. Bulatlat
5. Center for Community Journalism and Development
6. Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
7. College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP)
8. CEGP-Davao
9. Concerned Artists of the Philippines
10. Consortium on Democracy and Disinformation
11. Davao Today
12. Defend Jobs Philippines
13. Fiat Lux – National Teachers College
14. Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines
15. Himati
16. Iskolarium-PUP Sta. Maria Bulacan Campus
17. Kalasag
18. Kilab Multimedia
19. Kodao Productions
20. Manila Collegian
21. MindaNews
22. NCPAG-Umalohokan
23. NUJP Bacolod
24. Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI)
25. Pagbutlak
26. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
27. Philippine Collegian
28. Philippine Communication Society
29. Philippine Press Institute
30. Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines
31. PUP Institute for Culture and Language Studies
32. Scientia
33. SINAG
34. The Accounts
35. The BreakAway
36. The Catalyst – PUP Main
37. The Chronicler, PUP Taguig
38. The College Chronicle – Meycauayan College
39. The Communicator – PUP-College of Communication
40. The Forum
41. The Oikonomos Nexus – PUP Department of Economics
42. The Scribes – Polytechnic College of the City of Meycauayan
43. TugAni
44. UCC The New Crossroads – University of Caloocan City
45. Union of Journalists of the Philippines – UP
46. UP Baguio The Outcrop
47. UP Diliman Department of Journalism
48. UP Solidaridad
49. UPLB Perspective
50. VERA Files
51. World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters-Asia Pacific (AMARC-AP)