The claim that the rejection of the application by ABS-CBN for a renewal of its legislative franchise is an exercise of “representative democracy” is spurious because the people’s overwhelming clamor is for the grant of the franchise.

The 70-11 voting by regular and ex-oficio members of the committee on legislative franchises denying the renewal is defended as the prerogative of the people’s representatives.

The dismal decision is against the latest Social Weather Stations survey which was conducted nationwide before the July 10, 2020 voting which documented that more than 75% of Filipinos favor the 25-year franchise renewal of media network ABS-CBN, while only 13% of Filipinos disagreed and the rest were undecided.

Moreover, the SWS survey also found that majority of the respondents believed that a denial of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal is “a major blow to press freedom”.

 An overwhelming majority of Filipinos have effectively withdrawn their mandate to be represented by legislators who voted against the granting of a fresh 25-year franchise to the beleaguered network.

There is a gaping disconnect between the concerned Representatives and their constituents whose differing voices they have disregarded in favor of a forgone personal and partisan agenda.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN