Malacañang on Wednesday took a hands-off approach on ABS-CBN’s franchise as it deferred to the National Telecommunications Commission’s decision to shut down the operations of Channel 43 and its subsidiary, Sky Cable Corp.
“We defer to the actions of the NTC because it is the administrative agency specifically created by law to deal with these matters,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque told CNN news TV.
He said the issue of the network’s franchise was a matter that must be dealt with by the NTC, a quasi-judicial body.
Earlier, NTC ordered ABS-CBN to immediately stop its digital TV transmission in Metro Manila using Channel 43, insisting this was covered by the May 5 order to ABS-CBN to cease broadcast operations due to the lack of a congressional franchise.
Roque made his statement even as Senator Francis Pangilinan asked the Supreme Court to intervene over the case.
“We hope the Supreme Court steps on the brakes on this madness,” Pangilinan said.
He said thousands of employees would lose their jobs and millions of viewers would lose their access to information.
Senator Risa Hontiveros described as “alarming” said NTC’s order to ABS-CBN.
She accused the NTC of limiting public access to relevant information during the COVID-10 pandemic and for adding to the number of unemployed people.
Senator Sonny Angara also expressed dismay on the developments and slammed the NTC for its apparent “double standard.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives’ joint panel tasked to deliberate on bills on ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal conducted marathon hearings as the media network asserted it was paying the proper taxes and compliant with taxation laws.
“ABS-CBN has paid its proper taxes every year contrary to the allegations. There has not been a single year where ABS-CBN has paid zero taxes,” ABS-CBN’s Group chief financial officer Ricardo Tan told the House committees on legislative franchises and good government and public accountability
But the Labor department denounced the alleged attempts by the lawyers and officials of ABS-CBN to misrepresent its position to deceive members of the House of Representatives in its bid to gain congressional approval of a new franchise.
Still, the Gabriela Women’s Party expressed support to ABS-CBN’s workers and the millions dependent on the network’s shows for news and entertainment.