ANGEL LOCSIN’S SELF-SERVING, UNFOUNDED PUBLIC STATEMENTS
The free speech clause of the Constitution allows everyone in the country to state their views on just about anything. Under ideal circumstances, the views one expresses publicly ought to be true statements. Unfortunately, there are personalities who just open their mouths and peddle their views to the public, without bothering to first understand the truth behind the public issue being discussed.
If that isn’t bad enough, there are those who make unfounded statements in the guise of public interest and concern, when in reality, their public statements are self-serving, i.e., they are actually for the secret purpose of protecting their vested interests.
The situation gets further exacerbated when the statements emanate from a celebrity, because many Filipinos are overwhelmed by what celebrities say. That is why
“What is certain is that Locsin either did not read the Constitution carefully, or did not understand what the provisions of the charter mean.
celebrities are sought by advertising agencies to endorse certain products on print, broadcast and online media.
One of those celebrities in mind is television personality
Angelica Locsin Colmenares, or Angel Locsin to her followers on television.
At age 35, the veteran TV actress is reputed to be very wealthy on account of her talent and endorsement fees.
Locsin began her TV career with the GMA-TV network. She later left GMA-TV and transferred to rival TV network ABS-CBN. As of now, she identifies herself with ABS-CBN. Now that ABS-CBN has been off the air since its last franchise expired last 4 May 2020, it looks like Locsin’s happy days with the broadcast giant are in jeopardy. Naturally, that will be a cause of concern for Locsin. About two weeks ago, Locsin announced to the news media that the decision of Congress not to issue a new franchise to her beloved source of income is tantamount to an abridgment of press freedom, which is not allowed under the Constitution.
It’s easy for anybody to accuse Congress of violating press freedom, like what Locsin did. Unluckily for Locsin, her statements to that effect reveal that her understanding of the Constitution, particularly the constitutional right of press freedom, is very limited.
As Solicitor General Jose Calida pointed out, the issuance of a legislative franchise is not a right, but a mere privilege. More importantly, the Constitution itself vests in
Congress the unconditional and unbridled power and prerogative to decide on whether or not it will issue a legislative franchise, and neither the President nor the Supreme Court can meddle in that regard.
All that is crystal clear from the text of the Constitution.
If Locsin bothered to read the Constitution before invoking press freedom in the plight of ABS-CBN, she would have realized the folly and foolishness of her statements.
Ces Oreña-Drilon, who recently got retrenched from ABS-CBN (after almost 40 years of working there) and is now raising the press freedom picket, should follow the same advice.
What college degree Locsin obtained, if she obtained one, is not ascertainable as of this moment. What is certain is that Locsin either did not read the Constitution carefully, or did not understand what the provisions of the charter mean, and still went on to preach her disinformation to the public.
Locsin also lacks credibility as a defender of ABS-CBN because the network is her source of income, and she does not want her money faucet to run dry.
From all indications, therefore, it appears that Angel Locsin’s public statements concerning the ABS-CBN legislative franchise issue were made, not for invoking press freedom per se, but for her own vested interests, namely, it is to Locsin’s best interests that ABS-CBN, her goose that lays the golden eggs, remains alive and kicking.
“There are those who make unfounded statements in the guise of public interest and concern, when in reality, their public statements are self-serving.