Thirteen senators have filed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission to reconsider its cease and desist order against ABS-CBN.
Based on the resolution, the operations of the network must be allowed amid the franchise renewal issue. The resolution was signed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Risa Hontiveros, Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Ralph Recto, Lito Lapid, Sherwin Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao, Pia Cayetano, and Leila de Lima.
Meanwhile, Senate President Vicente Sotto III believes the NTC is only doing its job in accordance with the law and the franchise renewal of the network has long been a topic even before the current administration.
Sotto adds that President Duterte is not intervening in the renewal issue since the franchise renewal has stopped in the Congress. “Perhaps they can talk to the leaders of the House or their committee but as far as the Senate is concerned, kung tutuusin, we can only express our sentiments, what we think. But that’s just it, we can’t do anything. We’re not part of the House of Representatives committee work,” Sotto said.