Locsin suggests: Give NTC P1 budget for shutting down ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines — For Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddyboy” Locsin Jr., the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) should be given a P1 budget after it handed down a cease and desist order against media giant ABS-CBN.

Give NTC a budget of P1. That's what General Almonte did to some agency. The agency died. Simple. https://t.co/QDmQncRp6Q

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 7, 2020

“Give NTC a budget of P1,” Locsin said in a Twitter post, reacting to a news article where 13 senators filed a resolution to reconsider its order against the network.

“That’s what General Almonte did to some agency. The agency died. Simple,” he added, referring to Gen. Jose Almonte, the national security adviser during the time of former President Fidel V. Ramos.

The NTC handed down the order against the network after its legislative franchise expired on May 4.

Under Republic Act No.  3846 or the Radio Control Law, “no person, firm, company, association, or corporation shall construct, install, establish, or operate a radio transmitting station, or radio receiving station used for commercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without having first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress of the Philippines.”

But several bills on the network’s franchise renewal remain pending before the House legislative franchise committee.

Two days after the order, House Minority Leader and Manila Rep. Bienvenido “Benny” Abante Jr. even filed a bill seeking to abolish the NTC, and to its powers and functions to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

Locsin, in another Twitter post, said that instead of pointing fingers for who is to blame for ABS-CBN’s shutdown, the lower chamber of Congress should just “quietly pass” the ABS-CBN franchise bill.

Instead of pointing fingers, why not just quietly pass the ABSCBN franchise bill, just pass it. Senate will pass it too. Spare everyone the bullshet. https://t.co/jMKZlhJbBx

— Teddy Locsin Jr. (@teddyboylocsin) May 7, 2020

“Instead of pointing fingers, why not just quietly pass the ABSCBN franchise bill, just pass it. Senate will pass it too. Spare everyone the bullsh*t,” he said.

Previously, Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III assured that the franchise renewal of ABS-CBN will be approved once it reaches the Senate.

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