Media giant ABS-CBN has filed its comment on the quo warranto petition and urgent motion for issuance of gag order filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida.
The docket office of the Supreme Court (SC) confirmed that comments were filed at around 9:30 a.m. Monday by a messenger, a reliable source said.
The network in its comment on the SolGen’s plea for gag order said that sub judice rule should not be imposed to hinder freedoms of speech and the press.
“The sub judice rule should not be applied to impair, through prior restraint, the fundamental freedoms of speech and of the press that serve as bed rocks of a democratic society,” the comment read.
“It was created for a limited purpose — to prevent interference with, obstruction or impediment to the administration of justice and the erosion of the public’s trust in the justice system,” the network’s comment added.
In a statement last week, Calida condemned the issuance of a statement of the network and alleged propaganda to gain public sympathy.
PTV News tried to get a copy of ABS-CBN’s comment on the quo warranto, but the court declined since it is a confidential matter.
The quo warranto petition by Calida aims to nullify the network’s franchise which Calida said abused privileges given by the state when the network launched its pay-per-view – the KBO – in ABS-CBN TV Plus without prior approval or permit from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).
He also cited the alleged issuance of ABS-CBN of Philippine Depository Receipt (PDRs) through ABS-CBN Holdings Corp. to foreigners which is a violation of restrictions on mass media under the constitution.
The SC made sure it won’t affect the hearing on the senate.
Meanwhile, now that ABS-CBN submitted its comments particularly for the quo warranto petition of the country’s top lawyer, the high court may submit it for resolution or may call for oral arguments to further discuss the issue. – Report from Kenneth Paciente
