Freedom-loving Filipinos should come together and resist authoritarianism: LP

February 11, 2020

Statement of LP President Sen. Francis Pangilinan on quo warranto vs ABS-CBN

Together with the Filipino people, the Liberal Party of the Philippines has been here before. In 1972, when the ousted dictator imposed martial law, he also arrested his critics and shut down major media outfits like ABS-CBN.

This confluence of events was obviously deliberate, aimed at slowly maiming the broadcast network: the President’s incessant and open attacks, the absence of movement from the lower chamber to tackle the pending franchise renewal bills and recently, as if aiming for the kill, a quo warranto petition two months before the franchise of the network expires.

Stacking the government with his supporters, cracking down on the opposition, and silencing the media using all resources at his disposal are indications of the country’s slide into authoritarianism.

Freedom-loving Filipinos should come together and resist authoritarianism in all its forms.

A nation cannot be governed by way of threats, insults, intimidation, and violence.

Kasama ng sambayanang Pilipino, ang Partido Liberal ng Pilipinas ay nanggaling na dito. Noong 1972, nang ipataw ng pinatalsik na diktador ang batas militar, inaresto rin niya ang mga kritiko niya at pinasarado ang mga major media outfits tulad ng ABS-CBN.

Malinaw na sadya ang pagkakasabay-sabay ng mga pangyayari, at layong unti-unting siraaan ang network — ang mga walang tigil at lantarang pag-atake, ang kawalan ng pagkilos sa mababang kapulungan para talakayin ang nakabinbing panukalang batas para sa franchise renewal at kamakailan lang, isang quo warranto petition dalawang buwan bago magtapos ang franchise ng network, na tila ang pakay ay tuluyan na ang network.

Ano-ano ang mga indikasyon ng pagdausdos ng bansa sa diktadurya? Punuin ng mga kakampi ang burukrasya ng gobyerno, durugin ang oposisyon, patahimikin ang media gamit ang lahat ng mapagkukunang yaman na kanyang hawak.

Dapat magsama-sama ang lahat ng Pilipinong nagmamahal sa kalayaan, at tutulan ang lahat ng porma ng paniniil.

Hindi pwedeng pamunuan ang bayan ng pagbabanta, pag-iinsulto, pananakot, at karahasan.