The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has confirmed using the argument of the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) as one of the bases of its decision to stop the radio and TV operations of ABS-CBN Corporation. However, the NTC denied it was pressured by Solicitor General Jose Calida’s warning of legal sanctions if a provisional authority is granted to ABS-CBN.
NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said many have expressed comments, position, and arguments on the issue, and not the Solicitor General alone.
The Lower House tackled the ABS-CBN franchise last March and the NTC made an assurance to grant the network a provisional authority, the reason why House Deputy Speaker Johnny Pimentel believes the NTC may be subject to contempt. Cabarios said NTC is ready in case it happens.
Meanwhile, Pimentel defended House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and said it is “unfair” to blame him for what happened to ABS-CBN “because Congress is a collegial body.”
As ABS-CBN went off air on Tuesday, a joint resolution was filed in the Lower House to grant the media giant a provisional authority up to June 30, 2022. The NTC said the move is fine as long as it will be legislated and approved by the President.
House Bill No. 6694 was also filed to grant the embattled network a new franchise and has been included along other bills with the same objective. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
