MANILA – Solicitor-General Jose Calida said on Wednesday that Congress and not the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) should be blamed for the network’s shutdown. “Why blame NTC when they are only following the law?” Calida, the Solicitor General said in a statement to the media. “Without a valid and subsisting franchise from Congress, the NTC cannot allow any broadcasting entity …

METRO MANILA – ABS-CBN, the country’s largest broadcast network, has been ordered to stop broadcasting immediately after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease and desist order against the Lopez-led firm. The leading media network in the Philippines received a cease-and-desist order one day after the media giant’s broadcast franchise has been expired. Just before its main channel went …

Legislators from the House of Representatives welcomed the decision of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises to begin formal discussions on the renewal bills for the ABS-CBN franchise on 10 March. Advertisement At a press conference in Quezon City on Thursday, Albay Representative Joey Salceda expressed appreciation for the expansion, adding that he had never seen the chance that the …

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said Thursday he was willing to be jailed on his stand that even after his franchise had expired, ABS-CBN could continue to operate under a provisional authority. Advertisement The House Committee on Legislative Franchises had previously written to the National Telecommunications Commission to order the NTC to issue an interim authority for ABS-CBN, while the House …

The Senate Public Services Committee began its hearing on the ABS-CBN Corporation franchise bill on Monday. Among those present at the hearing are Carlo Katigbak, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABS-CBN; Mark Lopez, Chairman; Cory Vidanes, Chief Broadcast Operating Officer; Mark Nepomuceno; Ron Valdueza, Chief Financial Officer; Maxim Uy, Legal Division of ABS-CBN; Mario Bautista, General Counsel of ABS-CBN; …

The step by Solicitor General Jose Calida to ask the Supreme Court to issue a gag order on ABS-CBN while awaiting a decision on his petition for quo warranto violates the Constitution and is detached from reality, said Vice President Leni Robredo Wednesday. The change was also “disconnected from reality” and could set a dangerous precedent, she said. Calida’s quo …

House Committee on Legislative Franchises Vice-President Tonypet Albano told ABS-CBN Corporation that it would have its “time and day” in the chamber for consultations on the proposals seeking the renewal of its franchise. In a speech, Albano reiterated the claim made by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano that timing was necessary for the renewal of the broadcast giant’s franchise because of …

Isabela Rep. Antonio “Tonypet” Albano said on Thursday that there was no direct pressure from President Rodrigo Duterte about the pending legislation seeking to expand the ABS-CBN broadcast network franchise. The President has never interfered with, and does not plan to intervene with, Congressional relations, “he said.” He respects the separation of powers and has great respect for us. Albano …