Fishers group to join “Black Friday Protest” for press freedom
Manila, Philippines — Even under lockdown, members of the fisherfolk group Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (PAMALAKAYA) will be able to join the Black Friday Protest against the recent attack on press freedom.
To be led by the Movement Against Tyranny (MAT), various sectors and progressive organizations will simultaneously hold candle lighting protests at 6:30 pm today at their respective offices, houses, and communities, the time slot of the TV Patrol which bid farewell on May 5 after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order to the broadcasting giant.
“The fisherfolk sector joins the nation on its condemnation against the attack on press freedom. We stand united with the workers and personalities of ABS-CBN on its fight for the renewal of its franchise. It’s shutdown is an attack to the democracy and a betrayal to the Filipinos enduring the pandemic and lockdown, as it is one of the credible sources of news and information and considered as one of the highly essential services in this time of a public health emergency,” Fernando Hicap, PAMALAKAYA National Chairperson said in a statement.
“Moreover, we hold the Duterte government accountable on the shutdown of the ABS-CBN. This is outright dictatorship. Only tyrants are capable of silencing an entire broadcasting network that consistently exercises press freedom by exposing government’s wickedness. In case President Duterte has forgotten, the last time a tyrant shut down the same media institution, he was ousted by people power,” ended Hicap. ###
