LEGISLATORS AIR OBJECTIONS

“We are in the midst of a global pandemic crisis, this is not a good time to close a broadcast network which has been a constant source of news and information of the general public,” Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said.
The governor said he really expected that NTC would grant ABS-CBN provisional authority to operate until Congress has made a decision on its franchise renewal.
This was also the stand of the House Committee on Legislative Franchise, he said.

“Congress should act on this judiciously,” Lacson said.

Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said the House leadership, particularly the Committee on Legislative Franchise, headed by Rep. Franz Alvarez, is set to summon the NTC to explain its issuance of the cease-and-desist order.

Gasataya said they join the position of Alvarez, who believes that the development poses “a serious direct challenge to Congress’ exclusive Constitutional authority to grant, deny, extend, revoke or modify broadcast franchises, including having the jurisdiction to make an initial determination whether an application for a legislative franchise should be granted or denied”.

Rep. Francisco Benitez (Neg. Occ., 3rd District) said it is a pity that the NTC has chosen this route, against the request of Congress to be given time to go through the process, particularly at this very moment when government deadlines have all been extended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Media has been crucial to disseminating information and surviving quarantine for many Filipinos. To disrupt its function right now seems shortsighted. To endanger even more jobs and economic activity when everyone is busy trying to save jobs and resuscitate the economy seems cruel,” he said.

This also goes against NTC statements of allowing ABS-CBN to operate until Congress hears their case and decides to either renew or remove their franchise, he said.
“Many representatives were taken by surprise by the NTC’s move,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, who has roots in Negros Occidental, said he is also saddened and disturbed by the NTC issuance of a cease-and-desist order, shutting down ABS-CBN during this difficult time of a global health pandemic.

“It boggles the mind why NTC refuses to give a provisional authority to ABS-CBN to operate when they have done so many times in the past for other broadcast and telecommunications franchisees, whose terms had expired but have pending applications with Congress,” he said.

ABS-CBN, in a statement issued last night, said they went off the air in compliance with the NTC order.

Despite Senate Resolution No. 40, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Legislative Franchises’ letter, the guidance of the Department of Justice, and the sworn statement of NTC Commissioner General Gamaliel Cordoba, the NTC did not grant ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate while its franchise remains pending in Congress, it said.

“We trust that the government will decide on our franchise with the best interest of the Filipino people in mind, recognizing ABS-CBN’s role and efforts in providing the latest news and information during these challenging times,” it said.

The National Union of Journalists in the Philippines-Bacolod, in a statement last night, said “shutting down broadcast giant ABS-CBN at this time of crisis is a blatant disregard for freedom of the press and an attack on independent media.”

“This latest move of the government is deplorable and a disgrace to democracy. We call on our colleagues to stand up and fight,” it said.

Malacañang said ABS-CBN “is free to exhaust all legal remedies available” after the NTC ordered it to stop its operations.*CPG