Palace lackeys murdered ABS-CBN franchise bill –UST Journ Society

In a Saturday statement, the University of Santo Tomas Journalism Society accused “Malacañang lackeys” of murdering the ABS-CBN franchise bill, which they characterized as a “dastardly crime against press freedom.”

A day after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises voted to deny ABS-CBN's franchise application, the UST student organization said that the 70 lawmakers who voted against the application not only deprived citizens of access to a credible source of news, but they did so merely over personal and even “petty” vendettas and to remain in the good graces of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The murder of ABS-CBN's franchise is the latest in the growing list of acts committed under this administration that brought a chilling effect to journalists,” the Society said in their statement.

“This arrogance and misuse of power delivered yet another blow to press freedom, which is already being battered by a draconian cyberlibel law, troll armies, media killings, and the indifference and skewed priorities of some journalists.”

While the “murder” signaled dark days for independent and critical media, the journalism students urged the public not to be intimidated and to defend the press.

“Nobody stays in power forever. Their time for reckoning will come,” wrote the UST students. “Maniningil ang kasaysayan.” — DVM, GMA News