De La Salle University – Dasmariñas (DLSU-D) students and faculty have declared their support for ABS-CBN Corporation which was forced to sign off in early May.
The DLSU-D community joined other media advocates, students, media practitioners, netizens, and personalities who have declared their stand on the media network’s closure after it was ordered by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to stop operations on May 5, 2020. ABS-CBN’s franchise expired the day before without its application for renewal acted upon by the Philippine Congress which grants broadcast franchises.
DLSU-D’s Communication and Journalism Department (CJD) and its radio station 95.9 Green FM issued a joint statement on May 7, 2020, strongly condemning the order, stating that it is a “blatant suppression to democratic and constitutional rights”.
The CJD and DLSU-D 95.9 Green FM also made a stand with the 11,000 ABS-CBN employees who are affected by the decision, including its former students who have been employed with the Philippines’ longest-running broadcast network.
The statement called for the House of Representatives to act on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal.
On the morning of May 19, the Philippine Senate held an online hearing with senators presenting bills proposing the granting of a 25-year franchise for SBS-CBN.
Later the same day, the Houe of Representatives moved to resume hearings on granting the full 25-year franchise renewal for ABS-CBN.
More members of the DLSU-D community in Cavite have issued support to the media network, including the Broadcast Journalism Program Council (BJPC) which released a unity statement regarding the cease and desist order, saying, “This shutdown is a blatant threat to the Freedom of the Press. It doesn’t need a televised declaration, the abuse of power and vicious attempts to silence the press are displayed right out of our face. Each waking day is a step closer to yet another dark phase of our history. Let us not repeat the horrors of the past. The Filipinos had enough.”
The College of Liberal Arts and Communication (CLAC) Student Government and Program Councils also released an official statement: “We are speaking for our fellows Filipinos, journalists, and media workers that are mourning for a loss in our democracy. We shall fight back.”
Heraldo Filipino, the official student publication of De La Salle University – Dasmariñas, called for free circulation of information for people to properly assess what’s happening in their country, what their leaders are doing, and how all of these affect them.
“At a time when the public needs more reliable sources of news, shutting down one of the biggest media outlets in the country is a disservice to the Filipino people.
“It is the rightful obligation of the media to disseminate factual and unadulterated truth in a time when transparency is wanting and void. Hence, all means must be taken to uphold such basic human right.
“As a student publication that defends press freedom, together with the College Editors Guild of the Philippines and millions of Filipinos, we stand with ABS-CBN network in following the truth where it leads,” declared the student paper.
GMA personalities from ABS-CBN Corporation’s rival network showed support for the disenfranchised broadcast company.
Meantime, Good News Pilipinas put together a list of ABS-CBN network platforms that continue to operate and are not covered by the NTC order while the media company’s television and radio stations are off the air.
SEND CHEERS in the comments below to the DLSU-D community for bravely taking a stand for press freedom!
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