The protracted hearings conducted by the Committees on Legislative Franchises and Good Government followed a foregone conclusion, and despite ABS-CBN surviving the grueling legislative inquisition, it was slain at the end of the show with premeditation and abuse of superiority in numbers as aggravating circumstances.
President Rodrigo Duterte misleadingly stated that law-abiding citizens must not fear the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020” because the targets are the terrorists and communists.
This statement overlooks that innocent civilians are in the line of fire because the new anti-terrorism law is grossly vague, inordinately abusive and irredeemably unconstitutional.
My scorecard shows an 8-0 sweep of the major issues in favor of ABS-CBN Corporation’s franchise renewal.
This is my personal assessment of the outcome of the lengthy and grueling hearings conducted by the joint committees on legislative franchises and good government.
Verily, based on the merits, ABS-CBN Corporation rightly deserves a renewal of its franchise. Its ordeal must be ended and its franchise renewed.
The Supreme Court in Social Weather Stations vs. COMELEC (G.R. No. 147571, May 5, 2001) ruled that a law which is challenged for imposing a prior restraint on the freedom of expression is presumed unconstitutional.
This decision contradicts the repeated claims of the proponents of the new anti-terrorism act that it enjoys the “presumption of constitutionality”.
We trust the Supreme Court will uphold the majesty of the Constitution by purging the “Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020” of patently unconstitutional provisions and assuring that civil liberties would flourish.
We supplicate for justice and protection for the beleaguered Filipino people.
