The Supreme Court will start discussing ABS-CBN’s TRO petition against NTC’s cease and desist order on July 13.
During SC Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta’s video conference with the press, he said ABS-CBN’s prayer for TRO will be deliberated on the 13th of July.
On the ABS-CBN TRO petition, Peralta says TRO prayer will still be deliberated on July 13. They waited for comments from all parties.
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 11, 2020
The CJ also added that it was the member of charge who chose the date and that there is no assurance if there will be a resolution on the same date.
On the ABS-CBN TRO petition, Peralta says it was the member of charge who chose July 13 as date for next deliberation. No assurance yet if a decision/resolution may be reached on this date.
— Mike Navallo (@mikenavallo) June 11, 2020
On May 7, ABS-CBN filed a TRO against NTC’s cease and desist order which took effect on May 5, 2020.
The Kapamilya network has submitted an Urgent Reiterative Motion for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or a writ of a preliminary injunction against the NTC and all other persons acting under its direction, control or supervision.
On May 19, the Supreme Court en banc decided to defer tackling the issue and instead impleaded both House of Representatives and the Senate to give their separate comments on the ABS-CBN prayer withing 10 days upon receipt of the comments. The SC also asked NTC to comment within 5 days after both Houses have submitted their comments.
The Senate meanwhile has already submitted their comments to the SC.
In their June 1 submission to the high court, the Senate said their participation is not required to the media network’s plea vs NTC.
The Senate argued that they are not party to the suit as there are no counter and cross-claims against the Senate.
“The presence of the Senate as a party in the instant suit is not required because there is no counterclaim or cross-claim against the Senate in the case.
“Besides, it is submitted that the Senate is not an indispensable party, nor even a necessary party to the present case. As such, it should be dropped as a party in the instant suit,” Senate said on their comment to the SC.
Meanwhile, no news yet as to the House of Representatives submission to the Supreme Court’s pleading.
Currently, ABS-CBN’s franchise is still being deliberated at the House of Representatives. According to Speaker Alan Cayetano’s timeline, it may be up for decision by July or August 2020.
However, with ABS-CBN’s continued shutdown, the company is said to be bleeding 30-35 million pesos per day. The network’s management is also mulling on starting their retrenchment process in August if they continue to be off air.
