ABS-CBN is a beacon of free speech and free press because of one thing that is not stressed enough, ABS-CBN takes care of its employees.

There are complaints, yes. There are labor issues, yes. There are bad eggs, yes. But ABS-CBN is still the only network that pays a living wage to its journalists, and that is certainly more true when compared to other local media networks.

The competition to become an ABS-CBN journalist, to even work for ABS-CBN, is real and cutthroat because ABS-CBN salaries are far better than what other Filipino owned networks offer.

This is important.

A fair wage in journalism is a key deterrent against corruption. If journalists are paid and given their due, there is no reason for them to take money in exchange for ‘favors’. There is no avenue for the rich and powerful to influence the news.

These 71 lawmakers who denied ABS-CBN of its franchise voted against fair wages for journalists. Theirs was a vote against reporters who can say NO to virulent patronage practices, NO to institutional corruption, NO to ‘quid pro quo’, and NO to unethical practices.

Theirs was a vote to strengthen THEIR influence on journalism, to allow THEM to dictate the news. Theirs was a vote to SILENCE independent reporting.

They wanted to weaken journalism. They wanted to take away journalists' ability to stand on their own. These lawmakers want to stand before starving journalists who haven’t the strength to ask the right questions and to fight for the truth.

They did this with no regard for the families that would starve alongside the men and women of ABS-CBN.

These lawmakers all voted to rob journalists of fair wages in a clear act of hostility against the free press.

The lawmakers who argue the ABS-CBN franchise is not connected to free speech and free press are either blind or stupid. ABS-CBN’s franchise was central to its ability to preserve the independence of journalists.

That is the connection between the ABS-CBN franchise and free speech and free press. ABS-CBN paid its journalists well to speak truth to power. ABS-CBN shielded journalists from temptation by taking care of them and their families.

ABS-CBN shielded journalists from the influence of the rich and powerful.

Without a franchise, ABS-CBN can no longer do this.

Without competition from ABS-CBN, other local networks will have less incentive to pay their own journalists and employees well.

Without fair wages, journalists are more vulnerable to corruption.

Vulnerable journalists make it easier for the powerful to get away with murder.

They just did.