The Commission on Human Rights is in solidarity with the media community in celebrating the National Press Week. The press plays a vital role in fostering social good and in enabling other freedoms by speaking truth to power and bringing relevant information to the public.

To truly commemorate the importance of the press, it is important to tackle the current hostile environment that restrains press freedom and imperils journalists. The Commission has numerously called attention to the trend of harassment and intimidation directed towards media networks and media professionals, particularly those that report the gaps, abuses, and incompetence in government efforts and policies. Such reportage should be viewed as essential to the improvement of public services towards uplifting the dignity of all.

The delay in tackling the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise bill is another major concern, especially that Congress only has until 11 March 2020 to discuss the bill. We note that the President has expressed his desire to not renew the media company’s franchise due to “personal grievances.”

Media networks provide services to the public in multitude ways. Political weather and whims should not dictate the fate of ABS-CBN, or any other media network, that serves as a pillar of press freedom and democracy. Further, thousands of employees could lose their job if the franchise is not renewed. If this happens to one huge media company, then it will send a chilling effect to other media networks, which can result to a more abysmal state of press freedom, including our access to information and freedom of expression.

The press guards the truth, which anchors our values and all that we hold dear. Our freedoms can easily be snatched from us if not for the valuable information, factual reportage, and awareness provided by free press. Let us stand with the fourth estate so they may continue to blaze the light of truth that shields our rights and freedoms. ###