Former Vice President Jejomar Binay has thrown his full support for PIRMA Kapamilya and its people’s initiative to bring back the ABS-CBN franchise.
In a Facebook post on PIRMA Kapamilya’s official Facebook page, PIRMA’s co-convenor Atty. Rafael Calinisan shared a photo of himself with the former Vice President accepting his letter of intent to join the movement.
In his letter, Binay said he joins the nation in mourning for the shutdown of ABS-CBN and the denial of its franchise application. According to Binay, this is a clear violation of the rights to freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
“Kagaya ng maraming Pilipino ako ay nagluluksa sa pagbasura ng Kongreso sa prangkisa ng ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation. Sa aking palagay, ito ay pagyurak sa karapatan ng mga Pilipino na maka-pagpahayag, at pagtalikod sa karapatan ng malayang pamamahayag ng media,” said the former VP.
Binay also mentioned that while he was fully affected by the news exposes made by ABS-CBN news during the 2016 presidential elections, he still believes in the important role that media plays in our democracy.
“Noong ako ay tumakbo bilang Pangulo noong 2016 hindi maikakaila na ako ay naapektuhan ng ilang mga ulat ng ABS-CBN News. Ganun pa man, kinikilala ko pa din ang kahalagahan ng ABS-CBN sa ating lipunan,” Binay said.
“May importanteng papel itong ginagampanan sa buhay nating mga Pilipino,” he added.
Isa pang magandang balita mga ka-PIRMA! Si dating VP Jejomar Binay ay nagbigay suporta rin sa ating initiative! Bagyo ng…
Posted by PIRMA Kapamilya on Monday, October 26, 2020
Thus he was happy to know about PIRMA Kapamilya and its advocacy to bring back ABS-CBN through people’s initiative.
The former Vice President also volunteered to be Makati City’s lead coordinator and adviser.
“Ngayon naman, guston kong ipahayag and aking pagsuporta sa inyo. Ako na ang mangunguna dito sa Makati sa paglikom ng pirma para maibalik ang prangkisa ng ABS-CBN. I volunteer to be your Makati coordinator and your adviser kung gugustuhin nyo.”
In the end, he said this is the time for every Filipino to stand up and help each other to protect our democracy.
“Itong panahon na ito, dapat na tayong manindigan at magtulungan. Huwag nating pabayaan na daha-dahang mawala ang demokrasya sa ating bansa.”
PIRMA Kapamilya campaign was launched by People’s Initiative for Reforms and Movement (PIRMA) on July 24 with the aim of bringing back ABS-CBN on-air via People’s Initiative.
The group is composed of volunteer citizens, lawyers, professors, businessmen, and advocates is also set to do a house-to-house campaign to let Kapamilya supporters sign the petition while following COVID-19 health protocols.
PIRMA Kapamilya aims to get at least 7 million signatures, or at least 10 percent of the voting population of the Philippines and not less than 3 percent of the voters in each district of the Congress, in order to be able to enact the new franchise for ABS-CBN
People’s Initiative is one of the methods available in the constitution to pass a law without passing through congress.
