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    Philippine Lawmakers Near Vote On Fate of Network That Clashed With Duterte

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    James Ngayoon
    Philippine lawmakers have concluded hearings on renewing the license of ABS-CBN, a major broadcaster that was ordered to shut down in May after its license expired. The network's fate now rests with a committee that will vote on whether to renew its franchise. ABS-CBN's reporting has angered President Duterte in the past, leading to concerns its shutdown was politically motivated. Many Filipinos are worried about press freedom in the country as the committee vote could set an important precedent.

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    Philippine Lawmakers Near Vote On Fate of Network That Clashed With Duterte

    Uploaded by

    James Ngayoon
    16 views2 pages
    Philippine lawmakers have concluded hearings on renewing the license of ABS-CBN, a major broadcaster that was ordered to shut down in May after its license expired. The network's fate now rests with a committee that will vote on whether to renew its franchise. ABS-CBN's reporting has angered President Duterte in the past, leading to concerns its shutdown was politically motivated. Many Filipinos are worried about press freedom in the country as the committee vote could set an important precedent.

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    Philippine lawmakers have concluded hearings on renewing the license of ABS-CBN, a major broadcaster that was ordered to shut down in May after its license expired. The network's fate now rests with a committee that will vote on whether to renew its franchise. ABS-CBN's reporting has angered President Duterte in the past, leading to concerns its shutdown was politically motivated. Many Filipinos are worried about press freedom in the country as the committee vote could set an important precedent.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    16 views2 pages

    Philippine Lawmakers Near Vote On Fate of Network That Clashed With Duterte

    Uploaded by

    James Ngayoon
    Philippine lawmakers have concluded hearings on renewing the license of ABS-CBN, a major broadcaster that was ordered to shut down in May after its license expired. The network's fate now rests with a committee that will vote on whether to renew its franchise. ABS-CBN's reporting has angered President Duterte in the past, leading to concerns its shutdown was politically motivated. Many Filipinos are worried about press freedom in the country as the committee vote could set an important precedent.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 2

    Philippine lawmakers near vote on fate of network that clashed

    with Duterte
    ph.yahoo.com/news/philippine-lawmakers-near-vote-fate-140300039.html

    View photos

    ABS-CBN broadcast network employees gather as Philippine congress finalizes decision on franchise
    renewal

    By Karen Lema and Neil Jerome Morales

    MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine lawmakers concluded a hearing on Thursday on the license


    renewal of top broadcaster ABS-CBN, paving the way for a critical vote on whether a major
    media group that angered President Rodrigo Duterte should be allowed back on air.

    The telecom regulator ordered ABS-CBN and its 21 radio and 38 television stations to
    cease operations on May 5, after the lower house failed to conclude hearings on renewing
    its 25-year license before it expired.

    ABS-CBN's fate rests with one committee that must decide on a franchise renewal that
    Duterte has threatened to block during repeated public outbursts at ABS, which stemmed
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    from its failure to air one of his paid 2016 election commercials. ABS-CBN has since
    apologised.

    House speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, who was Duterte's running mate, said the committee
    could now make a "legally and morally sound decision" after 12 hearings.

    Cayetano said, however, that ABS-CBN had used public airwaves to further its agenda, like
    promoting its preferred election candidates. The network says its reporting is "accurate,
    fair and balanced."

    He stressed the issue was not about media freedom, hitting back at critics who accuse the
    president's allies of punishing ABS-CBN, at a time when legal cases mount against another
    news organisation, Rappler, whose gritty reporting has riled Duterte.

    The vote is expected as early as Friday and will be closely watched as concern grows about
    human rights and media freedom under Duterte in one of Asia's most liberal democracies.

    It follows a guilty verdict in a recent libel case against Rappler chief Maria Ressa, and the
    passing of a sweeping anti-terror law that critics say will be used to target Duterte's
    opponents.

    Dozens of activists gathered outside Congress in support of the 66-year-old broadcaster


    and its 11,000 staff, many holding placards saying "VoteYestoABSCBN", "Defend Press
    Freedom" and "Fight For Freedom and Democracy".

    Many Filipinos depend on free TV and radio for news and entertainment and ABS-CBN
    says it reaches 70% of the 107 million population.

    Congressman Mark Go said a franchise must be "swiftly granted" because ABS-CBN was a
    vital public service during a health crisis, while representative Rodrigo Abellanosa said
    failure to do that would be "tantamount to curtailment of the freedom of expression".

    (Editing by Martin Petty)

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