MANILA, Philippines – The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has already sought the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) legal opinion on whether ABS-CBN can continue to operate even after its franchise expires.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said they have received a letter from the NTC last Tuesday asking for advice.
“We got it (NTC letter) last Tuesday afternoon and we hope to reply by next week,” Guevarra said.
“The main question (asked by the NTC) is whether or not ABS-CBN may continue operating after the lapse of the franchise period, pending action by the Congress on the franchise renewal bills,” he added.
ABS-CBN’s franchise will expire at the end of March.
But Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the best time to tackle the renewal of the television station’s franchise was either May or after President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address (SONA).
READ: When is ‘right timing’ to tackle ABS-CBN franchise? May or August, says Cayetano
DOJ Undersecretary Markk Perete also said the NTC’s request is currently being evaluated by their legal staff.
“The request is being evaluated. The legal staff evaluates requests for opinion,” said Perete.
It was Senator Christopher “Bong” Go who disclosed last Wednesday that the NTC sought the help of the DOJ.
Aside from waiting for Congress to act on the renewal of its franchise, the network is also facing a legal battle at the Supreme Court (SC). Named respondents were ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence.