The House Committee on Legislative Franchises has served a show cause order against officials of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) directing them to explain why they should not be cited in contempt after the issuance of cease and desist order against ABS-CBN.
Based on the directive, Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, Deputy Commissioners Edgardo Cabarios and Delilah Deles, and NTC Legal Branch Head Atty. Ella Blanca Lopez have been ordered to explain within 72 hours upon receiving the order.
Also included in the order was the unfulfilled commitment of NTC to the Lower House last March 10 to “let the ABS-CBN Corporation continue its operations until Congress has finally disposed of the franchise renewal bills, consistent with precedents and practice and the position of the Department of Justice as well as the clear directive of the House of Representatives that ABS-CBN Corporation should be allowed to continue to operate until such time that Congress has made a decision on its application.”
“The act of the NTC constitutes undue interference on and disobedience to the exercise of the power of the House of Representatives, and therefore, an affront to its dignity and an inexcusable disrespect of its authority,” it added.
Meanwhile, retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno believes there is nothing wrong with the NTC’s move if it is in sync with the Constitution. Puno also believes it is better if the show cause order was issued before the cease and desist order to allow the media giant to explain why it should not go off air. He said it is part of procedural due process but clarified he is not saying the NTC’s action is illegal. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
