Manila — The Supreme Court (SC) did not take any action on ABS-CBN Corp.’s petition to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) on National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) cease and desist order against the broadcast giant.
The High Court said in a statement the case will be raffled on Monday to a SC justice, who will handle the case and make a recommendation for the consideration of the SC en Banc.
The ABS-CBN’s petition for certiorari and prohibition with a prayer for TRO was not discussed during SC’s en banc session on Friday as it was filed already late on Thursday afternoon.
“It was filed late yesterday (I think about 4 p.m.) Special raffle needs to be scheduled by the raffle committee. Then the member-in-charge needs to review to make a recommendation,” the SC said.
The network sought for a TRO on NTC’s order as the commission gravely abused its discretion when it issued the order instead of a provisional authority to operate, as the Senate and House Franchise committee instructed and as its officials had told lawmakers under oath.
Meanwhile, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor urges House of Representatives to look into possible graft and perjury charges against the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Solicitor General Jose Calida.
In his House resolution filed on Friday, Defensor also said that Calida may also face raps for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees for his threat to NTC with regards to ABS-CBN shutdown.
“The orchestrated conduct of the NTC Commissioners and its Officers and the Solicitor General directly subverts the plenary authority of the House of Representatives,” Defensor said.
“By maliciously breaking the NTC’s commitment made under oath, constitutes the criminal acts of perjury and violations of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees and the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act,” it added.
On March 10, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told members of the House they will follow the advice of the Department of Justice (DOJ), allowing ABS-CBN to operate while its franchise renewal bid is pending in Congress.
Despite this, the NTC issued a cease and desist order, directing the network to stop operating its television and radio broadcasting stations nationwide “absent a valid Congressional Franchise required by law.”
“Itong resolusyon na ito, hindi ito pagkampi sa ABS-CBN, higit sa lahat hindi ito pagtuturo. Ayaw naming magturuan sa gitan ng mga nangyayaring ito,” Defensor said. “Ito’y paglilinaw lamang na mayroong nangyaring kamalian, may nangyaring anomalya doon sa proseso na isinasagawang hearing ng Kongreso,” he added.
