“ABS-CBN petition is considered as a ‘case of first impression’ since no similar issue had been raised in the past. ADVERTISEMENT“More so if we consider the fact that the case could already be decided since the Solicitor General had already submitted its comment on the petition on behalf of the NTC as early as in May 2020,” he added. “Then and only then can we say that the case is closed and it is time for all of us to move on,” he added. To recall, on March 10, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba told members of the House that 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 pronouncement, the NTC on May 5, a day after ABS-CBN’s franchise expired, 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.”[atm]Read NextEDITORS' PICKMOST READ

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer August 30, 2020 15:45 UTC