MEMBERS of the Cagayan de Oro media, in their continued support for the renewal of the ABS-CBN’s franchise, staged another protest rally and candle lighting activity on a rainy Friday afternoon, March 6, at the Press Freedom Monument in the Capitol Grounds.

With their placards that read “Stand 4 ABS-CBN,” local journalists not only showed their support to media practitioners and workers of the ABS-CBN but also protested on the government’s attack on press freedom.

“Issue karon ang press freedom kay ang ABS-CBN usa na sya sa pinakadako nga platform sa media sa freedom of expression dinhi sa atoa,” JB Deveza, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) Media Safety Office head, said.

According to Deveza, this is not the only instance that the national government attacked a media company in the country, the same also happened for Rappler and Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“Basta gani mo-criticize ang media, naay criticism nga mo-paint kining dili maayo nga picture sa ilang policies, natural na buhat na sa gobyerno. Dili lang kani pero what is different lang sa karon, karon klaro kaayo ang pag-ipit sa hanay sa atong media,” Deveza said.

Pamela Jay Orias, the NUJP-Cagayan de Oro Chapter president, for her part, said the general public should be concerned and involved in the issue on press freedom as the media’s services are for them.

“So kun unsay pangitabo sa press freedom, kung masirado ang mga media companies, unsa na lang ang the public’s right to know? Mawala ang ilang katungod kun dili controlled na ang gagawas nga mga information,” Orias said.

Orias added that a controlled information released to the public will not always be the truth and the democracy that the Philippine has been enjoying will suffer.

She also encouraged the public to participate in their activity to protest against the attack on press freedom.

Asked about the coming hearing on March 10, Orias said they should talk about the “real issues” and not the personal agendas.

“Ang mahitabo dapat kung unsa ang merit ug unsa ang issues, matubag kun unsa ang tinuod, kun naa bay violations or wala, mao na sya ang i-tackle sa hearing,” Orias said.