HINIMOK ni Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman ang pamunuan ng TV5 at ABS-CBN na panindigan ang kasunduan sa pagsasabing wala silang nilalabag na batas.
Ito’y matapos magdesisyon ang dalawang network na pansamantalang iurong ang ginagawang preparasyon para sa kasunduan upang masagot ang mga isyu na ibinabato sa kanila.
“There is no merger of ABS-CBN and TV5, and ABS-CBN’s minority investment in TV5 does not result in the acquisition of control,” sabi ni Lagman.
Idinagdag ni Lagman na magiging paglabag sa free speech at press freedom ang mga pahayag na kailangan pa ang otorisasyon ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Philippine Competition Commission (PCC), at Kongreso bago maipatupad ang kasunduan.
Inihalimbawa ni Lagman ang naging desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa Chavez vs. Gonzalez case kung saan pinaboran nito ang press freedom.
“It is the instrument by which citizens keep their government informed of their needs, their aspirations and their grievances. It is the sharpest weapon in the fight to keep government responsible and efficient. Without a vigilant press, the mistakes of every administration would go uncorrected and its abuses unexposed,” dagdag ni Lagman.
