ABS-CBN network employees and its celebrities have been joining the call to #VoteYestoABSCBN franchise since it was made known that the vote on the franchise could be taken this week.
The “YES” for support became a call for a “NO” vote after the House committee on legislative franchises presented a resolution “denying the franchise application of ABS-CBN Corporation to construct, install, establish, operate and maintain radio and television broadcasting stations in the Philippines”, based on the recommendation of its Technical Working Group that was able to come up with its report in 24 hours.
Given this formulation, a vote of “YES” would mean voting against granting the network a franchise. A vote of “NO” would mean voting in favor of granting the network a franchise.
The committee voted to deny the network a fresh 25-year franchise: with 70 voting against granting the network a franchise, 11 in favor, 2 inhibiting and 1 abstain.
I can’t say I am surprised, but I am heartbroken. They have gotten their vengeance against ABSCBN and the Lopez family. What now Philippines? ?
— Karen Davila (@iamkarendavila) July 10, 2020
To all the kids, take note. May this day inspire in all of us a stronger call to serve and to fight injustice. https://t.co/6M1QKeCpn9
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) July 10, 2020
By a vote of 70 to 11 (2 inhibit, 1 abstain), PH House of Representatives has just handed us our death sentence denying ABS-CBN's franchise.
Let history be the judge.
But work must go on.#IbalikAngABSCBN #WeAreOneKapamilya #NoToABSCBNFranchiseRenewal
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) July 10, 2020
Napasa na ang Anti-Terror Law. Napasara na ang ABS-CBN. Siguro naman bababa na ang cases ng Covid sa Pilipinas????????????????? HA????????
— Tonette, Tonette (@tonetjadaone) July 10, 2020
#NoToABSCBNFranchiseDenial https://t.co/doOcYLGrkD
— KATH ? (@bernardokath) July 10, 2020
They have done this to a media giant which did not violate any law. They can easily do it to you. Chilling effect? That's what they wanted from the start: FEAR.
— Robi Domingo (@robertmarion) July 10, 2020
The group of GMA 7, the other big broadcast network in the country, expressed dismay over the denial of the franchise:
Pahayag ng Talents Association of @gmanetwork matapos hindi i-renew ng Kongreso ang prangkisa ng @ABSCBN. #BuhayMedia #NOtoABSCBNFranchiseDenial #DefendPressFreedom pic.twitter.com/JnYyVa9rQX
— #BuhayMedia (@buhaymedia) July 10, 2020
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines also condemned the denial of the franchise.
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FOCAP on ABS-CBN shutdown: We’ll never flinch and never cower
The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) condemns the vote of the House of Representatives' committee on legislative franchises to reject the license renewal of ABS-CBN…
— FOCAP (@FOCAP2020) July 10, 2020
Altermidya, in a statement, called the denial of ABS-CBN franchise “a government-orchestrated plot and nothing less than censorship.” The group of over 30 independent media outfits in the country also vowed support to the more than 11,000 workers of the network, as well as Filipinos in general, as they asserted the incident of denial as blows to press freedom.
ALTERMIDYA STANDS IN FULL SUPPORT with thousands of media workers, press freedom advocates, and freedom-loving Filipinos who call for the approval of the #ABSCBN franchise today. Let us unite in asserting our right to free expression and defending press freedom.#IbalikAngABSCBN pic.twitter.com/gRxSlTwTJi
— AlterMidya (@altermidya) July 10, 2020
The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines stressed that the will of the people will prevail.
[Statement] The will of the people will prevail
Today, July 10, 2020, the House of Representatives of the 18th Congress of the Philippines has declared itself enemy of democracy.
Today, this chamber has lost all claim to represent the people and our interests.
— NUJP (@nujp) July 10, 2020
#NoToABSCBNFranchiseDenial, ABS-CBN, #DefendPressFreedom and #Halalan2022 became trending topics on Twitter.
We thank those who voted or expressed support for ABS-CBN’s franchise application.
Salamat po, mga Kapamilya. pic.twitter.com/85LOK4YEWH
— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) July 10, 2020
WE. WILL. NEVER. FORGET. THIS.
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU. TANGINA.#IbalikAngABCBN #NOtoABSCBNFranchiseDenial pic.twitter.com/DqAc5DpCEO
— mark geronimo (@markgeronimo_) July 10, 2020
Let’s stop pretending that this is not about the president also. It is. #IbalikAngABCBN #NoToABSCBNFranchiseDenial
— Elijah (@elijahcanlas_) July 10, 2020
Wow. The biggest network can be denied a franchise even if BIR, DOLE, COMELEC (+ other gov’t agencies) have already OFFICIALLY stated that it has NO VIOLATIONS.
THAT is why this is a matter of press freedom, ladies and gentlemen.#NOtoABSCBNFranchiseDenial#DefendPressFreedom
— Ai dela Cruz (@aidelacruz) July 10, 2020
