3 MIN READ

By SHERWIN DE VERA
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Media groups in the Summer Capital and Benguet welcomed the call of Baguio City Representative Mark Go to convene the House Committee on Legislative Franchises immediately and tackle ABS-CBN’s franchise.

The Baguio Correspondents and Broadcasters Club (BCBC) and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines Baguio-Benguet (NUJP-BB) Chapter expressed support to the solon’s pronouncement.

BCBC President Aldwin Quitasol noted that the ABS-CBN shutdown is one of the darkest periods in the post-Martial Law quest for freedom of the press.

“Nalawag daytoy a pakakitaan no kasano nga imaniobra ti linteg tapno mausar kontra kadagiti intitusion, organisasion, grupo ken indibidwal a saan nga umannamong kadagiti pagayatan ti administrasion (This is a clear manifestation of how the law is being twisted against insitutions, organizations, groups and individuals who goes against the wishes of the administration.),” he said.

“Agtuluytuloy daytoy a kinadangkok no awan ti kumontra. Awan ti lugar ti panagbuteng (This madness will continue if no one will oppose it. There is no room for fear),” he added.

Quitasol also urged the media and the public not to allow abusive officials to prevail and go unpunished underscored that Congress is equally liable for the ABS-CBN issue.

BCBC is the oldest and largest media group in the Cordillera. Since its establishment more than 60 years ago, the organization has been providing professional growth to its members and valuable information to the public.

Meanwhile, NUJP-BB chair Kathleen Okubo said the Baguio lawmaker should go beyond his call to his colleagues to tackle the ABS-CBN franchise. She is hopeful that the solon would “send a stronger message against enemies of the free press by condemning the intensified attacks against journalists.”

Go authored House Bill 6138, one of 11 measures filed in Congress seeking the renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise. The 17th Congress has yet to discuss the bills. In stark comparison, Congress renewed the licenses of two other television giants: GMA in 2017 and TV5 in 2018.

NTC backtracks from commitment

Okubo questioned the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for issuing a closure order despite committing to grant a provisional authority to operate in Congress.

Back in March, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) announced that it would give ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate until June 2022. The commitment came after the office received resolutions from the Senate and the House of Representatives, urging the NTC to provide temporary permit while Congress deliberates the matter.

Earlier, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra advised that Congress must pass resolutions to provide NTC legal basis for the issuance of a provisional authority for ABS-CBN.

In the same month, NTC also issued Memorandum Order No. 03-03-2020, extending the validity of NTC issued permits, certificates, and licenses during the enhanced community quarantine. The documents would remain effective 60 days after the end of the quarantine.

However, on May 5 the NTC issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN. The agency maintained that the station could not operate with an expired franchise. The order came just days after the Office of the Solicitor General warned NTC against issuing a temporary permit for the media giant.

Congress equally liable

For Okubo, the House of Representatives is not without fault in the issues.

“We find greater fault in Congress for sitting on ABSCBN’s application for franchise renewal. It is even more deplorable to note that President Duterte himself has said several times that he will block ABSCBN’s franchise renewal,” she said.

The veteran journalist underscored that “while NUJP welcomes the call to convene and tackle the matter, true advocates of the free press in the House should have pushed for it earlier.”

Had Congress been fair and independent from the whims of the president, Okubo said, the franchise issue would have been settled before the May 4, 2020 expiration.

“We challenge Congress to rectify the situation, being the only institution that has the power to grant franchises. Convene, tackle, and resolve the issues surrounding the franchise. This has been long overdue,” she added.

Okubo also noted that “the administration’s weaponization of the law to advance their selfish interest will further the public of critical and relevant information, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic.” # nordis.net