Kapamilya actors, reporters, workers, and ABS-CBN supporters are deeply mouning the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises in Congress, which declined ABS-CBN’s bid for broadcast franshise renewal.
At the hearing and summation held earlier today, July 10, at the Batasang Pambansa, 70 congressmen voted to deny the Kapamilya network’s bid for franchise renewal, while only 11 voted in favor of the media giant; one reportedly abstained while two others opted to inhibit.
Opposition senator Risa Hontiveros released a statement regarding the result of the votation in Congress and said that denying the TV network to air because of "political agenda" is a direct assault to the country's press freedom.
"The non-renewal of ABS-CBN’s franchise has set a dangerous precedent," the lawmaker said on her Facebook post today. “Because the government allowed politicking in the process of renewing a legislative franchise and succeeded in the shutting down of a media institution, we have effectively begun to ring the death knell on press freedom in the country."
The lady senator also sided the workers who are set to lose their jobs now that the network failed to win the nod of the majority in the franchise committee.
Hontiveros also urged the public to dissent, to keep fighting for the freedom of the press, and to hold the government accountable of their deeds.
"We must speak out against this outrageous act of political persecution. We must protect the cause of a free press in this country. We must not be afraid to hold those in power into account."
MANININGIL ANG KASAYSAYAN. Statement of Sen. Risa Hontiveros on the non-renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise The...
Posted by Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday, July 10, 2020
Now that the broadcast application in Congress has been denied, Kapamilyas and their allies went to social media to express their grief for the fate of the Kapamilya network.
Pokwang
Bianca Gonzales
John Lapus
Meryll Soriano
Martin Nievera
Jolina Magdangal
Angel Locsin
Anne Curtis
Kaye Abad
Sue Ramirez
Carlo Aquino
Carmi Martin
Barbie Imperial
Kim Atienza
Marco Gumabao
Eula Valdes
Kira Balinger
Sharlene San Pedro
Robi Domingo
Jay Gonzaga
Regine Velasquez
Ejay Falcon
Rita Avila
Gerald Anderson
Melai Cantiveros
Julia Barretto
Dimples Romana
Morissette Amon
Bela Padilla
Kim Chiu
— kim chiu (@prinsesachinita) July 10, 2020
Maja Salvador
— MAJA (@dprincessmaja) July 10, 2020
Liza Soberano
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— Liza Soberano (@lizasoberano) July 10, 2020
Catriona Gray
— Catriona Gray (@catrionaelisa) July 10, 2020
Noel Ferrer
