Solon wants to admonish NTC for not issuing provisional authority to ABS-CBN

MANILA, Philippines — A lawmaker is urging the House of Representatives to admonish the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) for failing to comply with its commitment to issue media giant ABS CBN a provisional authority to operate while Congress is tackling its franchise renewal.

Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Sarmiento on Monday said that NTC insulted the House of Representatives and the Senate when it issued a cease and desist order against the network despite its commitment under oath to Congress.

The NTC also violated its own rules and did not give due process to ABS CBN, he added.

“Kailangan po muna ang show cause order bago mag issue ng cease and desist order. Hindi ito sinunod. We cannot let this action of NTC go pass without notice,” Sarmiento said in a speech during a joint hearing at the House.

(The NTC should have issued a show-cause order first before they issue a cease and desist order. This was not followed. We cannot let this action of NTC go past without notice.)

“Clearly this is a disrespect to Congress. Wag po tayong pumayag,” he added.

Agusan del Norte 1st District Rep. Lawrence Fortun expressed the same sentiments.

He pointed out that the NTC has issued a provisional authority to other firms while their franchise renewals were pending in Congress.

The NTC also committed to the House that it will give relevant updates on the issuance of the provisional authority to ABS-CBN, Fortun pointed out.

“From March 10 to May 5, the House never heard relevant development from NTC then the NTC issued a cease and desist order, catching all of us flatfooted,” he said during the hearing.

“This is a great insult to the leadership of both Houses,” Fortun added.