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Philippine lawmakers vote for shutdown of top broadcaster Philippine lawmakers vote for shutdown of top broadcaster
(about 3 hours later)
ABS-CBN denied licence after repeatedly clashing with President Rodrigo DuterteABS-CBN denied licence after repeatedly clashing with President Rodrigo Duterte
Lawmakers in the Philippines have voted against the renewal of a 25-year franchise for the nation’s biggest broadcaster, ABS-CBN, ensuring a media conglomerate that has clashed with the country’s firebrand president stays off the air indefinitely.Lawmakers in the Philippines have voted against the renewal of a 25-year franchise for the nation’s biggest broadcaster, ABS-CBN, ensuring a media conglomerate that has clashed with the country’s firebrand president stays off the air indefinitely.
A legislative committee overwhelmingly supported a house working group’s assessment that ABS-CBN was “undeserving of the grant of legislative franchise”, a decision likely to anger activists who say media freedom has come under sustained attack during the rule of President Rodrigo Duterte.A legislative committee overwhelmingly supported a house working group’s assessment that ABS-CBN was “undeserving of the grant of legislative franchise”, a decision likely to anger activists who say media freedom has come under sustained attack during the rule of President Rodrigo Duterte.
ABS-CBN has been on tenterhooks since Duterte took office in 2016, with the president repeatedly threatening to thwart its renewal bid, his anger stemming from its failure to air some of his paid election campaign commercials. It has since apologised.ABS-CBN has been on tenterhooks since Duterte took office in 2016, with the president repeatedly threatening to thwart its renewal bid, his anger stemming from its failure to air some of his paid election campaign commercials. It has since apologised.
Though Duterte enjoys a supermajority in the lower house, his legal adviser, Salvador Panelo, said the president had no involvement in the decision and “doesn’t intrude on the affairs of an equal branch”.Though Duterte enjoys a supermajority in the lower house, his legal adviser, Salvador Panelo, said the president had no involvement in the decision and “doesn’t intrude on the affairs of an equal branch”.
Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia head of Human Rights Watch, called it a “grievous assault on press freedom” not seen since the days of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia head of Human Rights Watch, called it a “grievous assault on press freedom” not seen since the days of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
“This move solidifies the tyranny of President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.“This move solidifies the tyranny of President Rodrigo Duterte,” he said.
A caravan of cars carrying ABS-CBN employees and celebrities holding placards saying “VoteYestoABSCBN” and “Defend Press Freedom” circled the house of representatives on Friday. A caravan of cars carrying ABS-CBN employees and celebrities holding placards saying “Vote Yes to ABS-CBN” and “Defend Press Freedom” circled the house of representatives on Friday.
Lawyers and rights groups accuse the president’s allies of persecuting ABS-CBN, at a time when legal cases have mounted against, Rappler, a news website whose reporting has also riled Duterte. Lawyers and rights groups accuse the president’s allies of persecuting ABS-CBN, at a time when legal cases have mounted against Rappler, a news website whose reporting has also riled Duterte.
The move against the broadcaster comes as concerns grow about human rights and media freedom under Duterte in a country with a reputation fas one of Asia’s most liberal democracies. The move against the broadcaster comes as concerns grow about human rights and media freedom under Duterte in a country with a reputation as one of Asia’s most liberal democracies.
It follows a guilty verdict in a recent libel case against the Rappler executive editor, Maria Ressa, and the passing of a controversial anti-terror law that critics say could be used to target Duterte’s opponents.It follows a guilty verdict in a recent libel case against the Rappler executive editor, Maria Ressa, and the passing of a controversial anti-terror law that critics say could be used to target Duterte’s opponents.
ABS-CBN, which says its 21 radio and 38 television stations reach 70% of the country’s 107 million people, can appeal the decision, but the minority lawmaker Edcel Lagman said that would likely fail because “there was pressure from leadership”. ABS-CBN, which says its 21 radio and 38 television stations reach 70% of the country’s 107 million people, can appeal the decision, but the minority lawmaker Edcel Lagman said that would be likely to fail because “there was pressure from leadership”.