ABS-CBN on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order to stop the National Telecommunications Commission from implementing its order shutting down the media giant.
The network appealed to the justices to set aside the NTC’s order and to issue a permanent injunction against its implementation.
The network told the high court that the NTC committed a grave abuse of discretion when it issued its order, instead of deferring to Congress and issuing a provisional authority to allow it and its stations to continue operating.
READ: Duterte: Congress must do its job in reviving ABS-CBN
The NTC issued its order on May 5, a day after the network’s franchise expired. The bills on the renewal of its franchise had been pending in Congress since 2014.
Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante Jr. is seeking the NTC’s abolition in a bill following its order to ABS-CBN to shut down.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said “it is the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress to determine whether a broadcast network should be granted the privilege to operate, and whether that privilege should remain.”
Agusan del Norte Rep. Lawrence Fortun filed a resolution condemning the NTC’s action.
“I strongly believes the House of Representatives has to officially express its sentiment on the contemptuous act of the NTC that is effectively a brazen mockery of both Houses of Congress,” Fortun said.
Ako-Bicol party-list Rep. Alfredo Garbin said the NTC’s decision violated due process, while Cibac party-list Rep. Eduardo Villanueva said it robbed 11,000 families of a source of livelihood.
READ: Unplugged: NTC orders network off air, says it lacks valid franchise
Human Rights Watch said President Rodrigo Duterte should rescind the order to shut down ABS-CBN.
“The Philippine government shutdown of ABS-CBN reeks of a political vendetta by President Duterte, who has repeatedly threatened the network for criticizing his abusive ‘war on drugs,’” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch.
Senator Risa Hontiveros said the repeated threats of President Rodrigo Duterte to veto the approval of ABS-CBN’ franchise sent a strong signal about what he wanted to happen.
“Of course it has a bearing. Every word issued by the highest official in the Executive [department] has the force of policy,” Hontiveros said when sought to comment on Duterte’s threats to the network.
Hontiveros said 13 senators belonging both to the majority and minority blocs filed a resolution appealing to the NTC to reconsider its order to ABS-CBN.
READ: ABS-CBN's closure shakes advertising industry
Hontiveros aside, the other signatories were Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Senators Francis Pangilinan, Sonny Angara, Joel Villanueva, Nancy Binay, Lito Lapid, Win Gatchalian, Manny Pacquiao, Pia Cayetano and Leila De Lima.
Senator Manny Pacquiao, however, rejected the claims that the Duterte administration was attempting to subvert press freedom with the NTC decision. But he insisted that the timing was off and very divisive at a time when the country needed to unite in the war against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Senator Grace Poe said the timing of the closure order was “suspect” and “really off” as the country was dealing with the COVIDE-19 pandemic and the unhampered flow of reliable information was necessary.
READ: NTC orders ABS-CBN to explain within 10 days why its broadcast frequency should not be revoked
Senator Leila de Lima said shutdown of ABS-CBN was the work of of Duterte and his accomplices in the House of Representatives.
The Liberal Party said the overwhelming public clamor for the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise was a testament to their extraordinary contribution to the country.