Media outfits, media groups and campus publications launched an online petition today to call to bring ABS-CBN back on air.
The supporting organizations of the petition said, “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 is addressed to the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC) to withdraw the cease and desist order it issued to ABS-CBN on May 5, forcing the biggest broadcasting network in the country to go off air. Said order was served to the network before office closed a week ago, despite the NTC promising Congress in March to give ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate.
Congress lost time to tackle the proposed legislations for the network’s 25-year franchise extension that has been pending in the House of Representatives (HOR) for three years. Congress was then set to adjourn soon and scheduled to resume only by the time the network franchise has expired, but any or all activities were also stopped since the lockdown was imposed on NCR since March 15.
The petition sought the Lower House to grant the franchise extension. It would then be transmitted to Senate for its approval and to Duterte for it to be signed or lapse into law – which would take time. The HOR resumed sessions via teleconferencing on May 4 but has yet to schedule tackling the pending legislations for ABS-CBN franchise extension.
The petition also sought the Supreme Court to grant the temporary restraining order appealed by ABS-CBN so it can go back on air.
Find the petition here.
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Read the whole petition below:
AN APPEAL TO BRING CH2, DZMM, MOR AND CH23 BACK ON AIR
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
