Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR)

A congressional committee has voted to reject the franchise application of ABS-CBN, the Philippines’ largest TV and radio network. Since 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte has castigated the network for its critical reporting and has threatened the non-renewal of its license.

The Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility said the forced closure of a major broadcasting network limits the possibilities of civic engagement and political participation.

Several groups and journalists in the Philippines have signed a statement describing the government’s new media accreditation process as ‘unnecessary, unreasonable and unconstitutional’.

CMFR sees the suit against ABS-CBN as a dangerous attempt to control and silence the free press.

Members of the Ampatuan family and accomplices were sentenced up to 40 years in prison for the killing of 58 individuals, 32 of whom were journalists, in 2009.

The judge ruled that the “undue haste in the transmittal of records” by the prosecutor violated the “Rappler” executives’ right to due process.

Red-baiting incidents against media practitioners have worsened under the Duterte administration.

The senate bill criminalises the publication of ‘false content’ and imposes harsh penalties.