ABS-CBN asks SC to junk NTC’s cease and desist order

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 08:45 am

MANILA, Philippines – Media titan ABS-CBN Corp. has filed a petition on Thursday and asked the Supreme Court for a temporary restraining order on the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

“The continued operation of ABS-CBN Corporation is a matter of public interest and transcendental importance, it being among the largest broadcasting entities in terms of coverage and audience,” ABS CBN said in the petition.

In its 46-page petition for certiorari and prohibition, it said that the implementation of the cease and desist order would jeopardized the livelihood of more than 11,000 employees and would deprived the public on their leading sources of news and entertainment which especially important at this time of public health emergency brought upon by Covid-19 pandemic.

“The continued operation of ABS-CBN Corporation is a matter of public interest and transcendental importance, it being among the largest broadcasting entities in terms of coverage and audience,” ABS CBN said in the petition.

“Instead of issuing a provisional authority, the NTC, in bad faith, issued cease and desist order against ABS-CBN. It did exactly the opposite of what it was expressly enjoined to do, and it maliciously reneged on the representations Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba made to the House Committee. This is grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction,” said in the petition.

The NTC issued the cease and desist order after ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise expired on May 4. Republic Act No. 7966 granted ABS-CBN a 25 years franchise to operate TV and Radio broadcasting stations. The license expired on May 4, 2020.

Related News: https://www.theasianaffairs.com/philippines/2020/05/06/abs-cbn-shuts-down/