Calida won’t answer questions related to ABS-CBN cases still pending before SC

MANILA, Philippines —Solicitor General Jose Calida said Monday he will not answer queries related to his pending cases against media giant ABS-CBN before the Supreme Court.

During the joint hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises and the committee on good government and public accountability on ABS-CBN’s franchise, Calida cited the “principle of non-encroachment on the exclusive domain of judicial jurisdiction” and the “sub judice rule.”

According to Calida, the sub judice rule “restricts comments and disclosures pertaining to the judicial proceedings in order to avoid prejudging the issue, influencing the court, or obstructing the administration of justice.”

Calida said the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) also used the same reason in declining to the previous invitations of Senate to attend hearings conducted in the upper chamber on ABS-CBN’s franchise.

Furthermore, Calida cited the motion of the OSG to issue a gag order to prohibit the parties and their representatives from discussing the quo warranto case against ABS-CBN in public.

“I maintain this position and thus I am not allowed to answer any questions involving matters pending on the Supreme Court,” said Calida.

The solicitor general did not attend the hearing conducted on May 26, as he cited the pending petitions he had filed before the Supreme Court against ABS-CBN.

READ: House panels to compel SolGen Calida to attend ABS-CBN franchise hearings