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Gonzalez ups pressure on defiant TV networks


(Update) The Department of Justice on Wednesday stepped up the pressure a bit on broadcast media following the refusal of a television network to furnish the Philippine National Police the raw video footage of the six-hour-long Manila Peninsula standoff last November 29. In a media briefing, Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said he has directed the National Telecommunications Commission to provide him copy of the franchise charter of all broadcast stations to determine if they committed some violations of their own charter in their coverage of the Peninsula standoff led by Senator Antonio Trillanes IV and his supporters. Gonzalez made the request following the failure of the Philippine National Police to compel the management of ABS-CBN to surrender its raw video footage of the standoff as part of its investigation. The PNP had wanted to probe whether some television firms exceeded their boundaries of their broadcast license in their coverage of the failed revolt. "I want to see what are the limitations or possible violations which the networks may have committed. I know that the NTC has copies of their franchise. I just want to study them," Gonzalez said. However, he dismissed allegations that the CIDG's demand for ABS-CBN to submit raw footage was meant to send a chilling effect to the media sector. In a statement, ABS-CBN vice president for news Maria Ressa claimed the PNP's demand for the network to submit its raw footage was all part of a continuing attempt to "intimidate and harass journalists" and indicated a "gradual erosion of press freedom" in the country. But Gonzalez said that despite the company policy not to submit raw tapes, the issue of national interest prevails over the issue of press freedom. "National interest overrides press freedom. Press freedom is not absolute, it has limitations," he said, adding that the refusal of the media to cooperate with police may indicate that they are "hiding something." - GMANews.TV
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