The main media group banned from broadcasting in the Philippines

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Human rights NGOs are sounding the alarm after the main closure of the main Filipino media group. The license for the ABS-CBN conglomerate has not been renewed even though its channels have been broadcasting without problems for 25 years.

Publicity

The largest Filipino media group, ABS-CBN, stopped broadcasting on Tuesday May 5 due to the blocking of its broadcasting license. The group's channels were known for their critical coverage of the Philippine presidency. For Rachel Chloa-Howard, analyst in the Asia office of Amnesty International, the closing of the media group's channels marks a new step towards the authoritarianism crossed by Rodrigo Duterte .

"  The government is trying to camouflage this decision by making us believe that it is a normal file that has nothing to do with politics and that ABS-CBN comes to this because they have not respected the law on foreign investments ,  " says Rachel Chloa-Howard at the microphone of Vincent Souriau.

Timetable for a political decision

The 25-year license for ABS-CBN expired on Monday, but authorities had previously assured that the group could continue broadcasting on a temporary basis. This Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission issued a cease and desist order, citing the expiration of the license and indicating that ABS-CBN should appeal the order in the hope of resuming broadcasting.

However, the Amnesty International analyst draws attention to the timing of this decision, which she considers political. According to her, "  multiple opportunities  " were "  offered to the authorities to renew this license  ", and "  several official bodies [had] given the green light to this renewal against the advice of the government  ".

"  There is no substance behind this ban," says Rachel Chloa-Howard. It is very clear: these attacks against ABS-CBN are political attacks. This is very disturbing because it brings us back to the dictatorship of Commander Marcos , who imposed martial law to take control of media groups in the Philippines.  "

Conflict with Duterte since 2016

ABS-CBN's conflict with the Philippine head of state started in 2016. Since then, the leader has regularly attacked the television, radio and Internet group in his speeches. The bill providing for the renewal of its license dragged to Congress, controlled by supporters of the president.

Rodrigo Duterte is used to attacking media criticizing his policy, worrying press freedom advocates in the Philippines. "  It is painful for us to have been closed, but it is also painful for the millions of our fellow citizens who feel that our service is important to them,  " said ABS-CBN President Mark Lopez, just before the main television was cut.

At the start of his mandate, Rodrigo Duterte had criticized the group for not having broadcast his presidential campaign spots and for not having reimbursed the money collected to broadcast them.

► Read also: Philippines: critic of Duterte, journalist Maria Ressa arrested in Manila

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• Philippines
• Rodrigo Duterte
• Freedom of press

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