A day after the media network ABS-CBN finally signed-off, a letter showing Solicitor General Jose Calida was the culprit behind National Telecommunications Commission’s sudden decision to halt the network’s operations surfaced.
ABS-CBN News was able to obtain a copy of a letter dated April 30, 2020, where Calida pressed the commission to halt the network’s broadcast operations issuing a “recall order requiring ABS-CBN Corporation to explain why the broadcasting frequency assigned to it should not be recalled or otherwise forfeited” instead of issuing a provisional authority for failing to renew its franchise.
Part of the letter says, “With an expired franchise and a failure to renew the franchise, the NTC should, instead of entertaining the thought of issuing a PA, with or without hearing, issue a show cause or recall order requiring ABS-CBN Corporation to explain why the broadcasting frequency assigned to it should not be recalled or otherwise forfeited.”
(Screenshots shared by Mike Navallo, ABS-CBN News on Twitter)
Furthermore, Calida said, “At the same time, the NTC should issue a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN Corporation from continuing its broadcasting operations” and warned the commission officials of the possible penal sanctions they will face for issuance of provisional authorities to the media conglomerate without an existing legislative franchise.
In the letter, Calida stressed that through the Public Service Act and the NTC’s internal rules, the commission has the power to issue a cease and desist order upon the expiration of any franchise.
The 14-page letter signed by Calida and the other six solicitor generals was addressed to NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba and Deputy Commissioners Delilah Deles and Edgardo Cabarios.
Aside from the issue of ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal, the Solicitor General also brought up the citizenship issue against the network’s chairman emeritus Gabby Lopez. But, this issue was already addressed by ABS-CBN President and chief executive Carlo Katigbak who previously explained that Lopez is a Filipino citizen and that he holds a Philippine passport.
As a result, the NTC on May 5, forced ABS-CBN Network to close down “for the first time since the Marcos dictatorship.”
On a side note, Calida announced that it is the Congress, and not the NTC should be blamed for the ABS-CBN shutdown.
He said that the commission was just following the law, while Congress slept on the network’s franchise renewal for almost four years.
“The bill renewing ABS-CBN’s franchise has been pending in Congress since 2016. The question we should be asking is, why hasn’t Congress acted on it? Who is at fault here?” he said on Wednesday, May 6.
Moreover, Calida stated: “The exercise by the NTC of its regulatory power is in accordance with the principle of the rule of law. Nobody is sacred. Even a powerful and influential corporation must follow the law.”
“Without a valid and subsisting franchise from Congress, the NTC cannot allow any broadcasting entity from operating in the country,” he added.
