Malacañang believes that freedom of expression and of the press will stay even if broadcast media giant ABS-CBN shuts down as its franchise faces challenges in Congress and the Supreme Court, saying there are other media outfits that can freely operate.
Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo made the statement 38 days before ABS-CBN’s franchise expires on March 30.
In an interview with ANC, ABS-CBN’s English news channel, Panelo expressed frustration about people trying to link the issue of ABS-CBN’s franchise with press freedom, saying there was no connection at all.
“Pagpalagay natin na mawala ang ABS-CBN, are you telling me namatay na ang freedom of expression and of the press? Of course not. Ang daming networks, ang daming radyo, nandiyan pa rin,” he said Friday.
“There’s no curtailing there. If you violate a provision of the law that will be the result of your violation, how can that be?” he added.
“The very grounds for quo warranto does not even touch your rights to criticize, to make editorials, ‘di ba? So anong koneksyon? ‘Di wala,” he continued.
The renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise is yet to be tackled by Congress despite his impending expiration. Its franchise is also being questioned by Solicitor General Jose Calida before the Supreme Court, citing abuse of their license.
‘JUST DO THEIR JOB’
Meanwhile, Panelo called on the House of Representatives to just do their job and stop waiting for the President’s instructions.
However, he said it was up to the courts to determine if the House was violating the law by stalling the hearing of ABS-CBN’s franchise.
“Why does the Speaker have to take the cue from Malacañang? Why do members of Congress have to wait for what the President will say about anything? It’s about time…If that was the practice before, tigilan na po natin ‘yan,” he said.
However, the Palace official said they were not channeling Pontius Pilate when talking about ABS-CBN’s franchise. Malacañang has repeatedly urged those concerned with the franchise renewal to “do their job.”
“The Constitution demarcates your powers, your duties. Yun ang ginagawa ng Presidente. Kung ano lang yung trabaho ko, ‘yan,” Panelo said.
He added that Duterte will only step in if there was an abuse of power or injustice. (Argyll Geducos)
