By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – More than 100 individuals from cause-oriented groups, media organizations, youth, labor, and other sectors here showed their support to ABS-CBN amid the denial of the network’s 25-year franchise application.
Around 81 employees of the local TV station here will lose their jobs on August 31, 2020. They were among the 11,000 employees who will be affected by the network’s shutdown.
ABS-CBN workers, concerned citizens, mediamen, and members of some groups gathered in front of the TV station along Lacson Streets on Saturday to show solidarity amid the crisis that the giant broadcast network is facing.
A caravan around the major streets of the city was also held wherein participants honked their cars to call for support.
It was followed by a noise barrage, candle-lighting ceremony, and prayer in front of the station.
Romeo Subaldo, news chief of ABS-CBN Bacolod, became emotional, as he expressed his gratitude to the people who continue to support them.
“Indi kamo namon kilala pero ari kamo diri subong nga naga unong sa amon. Madamo gid nga salamat,” he said.
He said they’ve been tortured every day for several months because of the network’s struggle to acquire a fresh franchise.
But early this week, they received the sad news about losing their job by the end of August.
“Maano kami? Diin kami pudyuton? Kadamo wala obra subong,” he said.
He said they lost their jobs while everyone is also battling the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
He said that “with the closure of the network, their dreams for their families and loved ones were also shut down.”
Marchel Espina, chairperson of the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)- Bacolod Chapter, said that this is a very tough time for the press and for the country’s democracy.
The NUJP calls on the media colleagues to resist the further attempt of this government to shackle the press.
“Enough is enough. We have to fight back,” she added.
NUJP chair Nonoy Espina, who is based here, thanked the citizens for joining the call to free the press and to protect human rights.
He said that the closure of ABS-CBN, which will affect the 11,000 workers, also tramples democracy.
CONDEMNED
The Diocese of Bacolod condemned the denial of the network’s franchise application by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on July 10, 2020.
Bishop Patricio Buzon, in a statement, said that “this act by the House Committee is the latest in a series of insidious attempts by the present administration to quash dissent and to prevent persons and institutions from exercising their right to free speech as well as from benefitting from a free and independent press.”
This is indicative of the administration’s intolerance for views that put to question its policies and actuations, he added.
Buzon said that the rejection of the franchise application has also silenced a major source of information for the people, thereby compromising their constitutionally guaranteed right to information on matters of public concern.
One less media outfit is one less information source for our people, he added.
With this series of attempts, the Diocese is convinced that our democracy is being imperiled. If left unchallenged, our country can retrogress to tyrannical rule, the bishop said.
The Diocese called out duly elected representatives and remind them that they are duty-bound to uphold and protect the rights of the people and secure the common good of the nation.
