Church People-Workers Solidarity stands in solidarity with ABS CBN workers
Denounces unjust and inhumane closure of the media network
We from the Church People-Workers Solidarity stand in solidarity with ABS CBN Workers and with the Filipino people in denouncing the unjust and inhumane closure of media network ABS-CBN by the National Telecommunication Commission.
We believe that the closure is unjust.
More than ever, in this time of Covid-19 pandemic where people need genuine and up-to-date information, media such as the ABS-CBN plays an important role in providing lifesaving information to the greater public from the cities to the remote barangays in the country and in different parts of the world. This means that the government itself attacks the right of people to information. Information that will possibly save them from the Covid 19.
We believe that the closure attacks ABS-CBN workers’ right to work.
Again, in this time of health and jobs crisis, workers deserve full protection of their human right to’ job security from the government. Yet, more than 11 000 ABS CBN workers all over the country are in the brink of losing their jobs and sources of income brought by the government’s closure order of the media network. NTC in the first place should put a heavy weight on the effect of a closure order to the workers, their children and families.
We believe that the closure is an attack to press freedom.
ABS-CBN news and current affairs department has been very active in providing information regarding the delays and problems in the distribution of financial assistance to the workers as well as anomalies on the Social Amelioration Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Also, in the past, some shows and anchors of the network strongly exposed destructive mining and reclamation activities among others. And recently, the POGO operations were also exposed. With the closure of ABS-CBN, freedom of the press is also shutdown and dissent is silenced. Workers and the peoples’ right to be informed and to be part of the debate and to demand change are also being thwarted.
We stand for workers’ right, press freedom and justice.
We stand that the government should put the interest and welfare of the Filipino people first.
We hope that this incident will be resolved immediately and will not lead to the acquisition of the network by business tycoon who supported and funded President Duterte’s election campaign.
We urge the government to let the network operate and post haste the process of the long overdue application for franchise renewal of ABS-CBN. By this, thousands of ABS-CBN workers who are also frontliners in the battle against Covid-19 can go back to work and provide service to the Filipino people.
Finally, to the workers of ABS-CBN, we are with you in your fight for justice. Together, we will stand for workers’ and people’s rights, press freedom and justice. ###
Signed:
Most Rev. Gerardo A. Alminaza, D.D.
Bishop, Diocese of San Carlos
CWS Co-Chairperson
