‘Blow to press freedom’: Solons slam NTC cease and desist order on ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines — Several lawmakers slammed the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for media giant ABS-CBN to stop operating its television and radio broadcasting stations nationwide after its franchise expired on May 4.

House Deputy Minority leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate said that the move is a blow to NTC’s “independence as a regulatory body since it is obvious that it succumbed to the threats of Solicitor General Jose Calida.”

“It is also a serious blow to the freedom of the press as it is now being sacrificed in the altar of political vendetta,” Zarate said in a statement.

“But there is still hope. It is imperative now that in the ten-days that was given for ABS-CBN to comply, Congress can already fastrack the hearing and resolve the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN so that the network can continuously go on air,” he added.

Ako Bicol Partylist Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., meanwhile, cited precedents and the earlier legal opinion of the Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra.

“Established precedents in the recommendation of NTC on Pending Application for Renewal of the franchise is that if the Application for the franchise was filed ON TIME and pending deliberation before the Franchise committee the franchise Expired, the NTC allows the Applicant to operate until the committee on Franchise decide with Finality. That is based on “EQUITY.” DOJ Secretary Guevara has the same opinion,” Garbin said in a text message.

“The same treatment should be accorded to ABS-CBN,” he added.

House leaders banked on NTC to grant ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate as bills seeking the renewal of the media giant’s franchise remains pending before the House committee on legislative franchises.

On March 10, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told members of the House that they will follow the advice of the Department of Justice (DOJ), allowing ABS-CBN to operate while its franchise renewal bid is pending in Congress.

But On May 3, Solicitor General Jose Calida, who earlier filed a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN in a move to have the network’s franchise revoked, warned the NTC against granting provisional authority to ABS-CBN.

According to Calida, NTC could not grant provisional authorities to ABS-CBN Corporation and its affiliate, ABS-CBN Convergence, Inc. because it must first secure a franchise from Congress.

EDV