A HUGE swath of the Philippine population is not represented by a political party in the decision-making halls of government. Neither does the middle-class and lower-class majority in the country own a media network that would be its mouthpiece in the exercise of its equal share of the right to freedom of the press.
For this sector, freedom of the press is irrelevant as they own no media network to voice its concerns and protect its peculiar interests. Mainstream big media networks like ABS-CBN are all owned by corporate giants and/or extremely wealthy individuals and naturally have the political bias of their owners or controlling stockholders.
Thus, to say that cancelling the franchise of ABS-CBN is a “dark day” for freedom of the press is not the least bit correct, not even partially true. It is a dark day only for the press freedom of big business and of top politicians that depend on big media networks they control for their election campaign and the defense of their vested interests.
That is why Congress will most certainly renew ABS-CBN’s franchise. Our senators and representatives represent, protect and promote the interests of big business that in reality ran this country until President Duterte came along. Incidentally, if it is of any consolation, big business runs every other country in the world including the US that is known to be run by its military-industrial complex.
But even if ABS-CBN’s franchise is renewed, the quo warranto case should be pursued to its bitter end. The Filipino people have the right to know if ABS-CBN has violated the Constitution. The issue here is not freedom of the press, as ABS-CBN and its supporters would have us believe. The issue rather is if that freedom includes the license to violate the laws of the land.
Every day in this country today is a “dark day” for the freedom of the press of the marginalized sector. The poor have no media network, biased in favor of their interests and concerns, with which to exercise their share of press freedom that at the moment only big business enjoys.
What this country needs is a democratized press freedom. The farmer-worker class must be represented in Congress by a political party of its own. This sector must learn to unite under the one banner of its own party instead of scattering loyalties among the existing political parties of the rich. Next, this sector must have its own press to speak for it, defend and promote its interests.
That will take time that in this country could mean forever. In any case, media networks, meanwhile, especially the big heretofore unquestioned mouthpieces of the rich, should not be allowed to violate our laws much less hide under press freedom when they do.