Richard Gomez: It was gov't that had ABS-CBN shut down

Administration officials must be the ones to address the issue of ABS-CBN's shutdown, Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez said in an interview over state-run PTV.

Gomez, a longtime talent of the broadcast network, made the remark after Communications Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio sought his comment as regards ABS-CBN going off the air.

“Nako, Usec Rocky, baka mas maganda yata kayo ang sasagot niyan dahil kayo nasa gobyerno, ang nagpahinto sa pagbroadcast ng ABS-CBN," Gomez said, laughing.

"Ang take ko diyan, nakakalungkot din isipin pero hopefully temporary 'yung pagsara sa ABS-CBN dahil napakaraming taong nagtratrabaho diyan. Marami akong kaibigan na artista na nagtratrabaho diyan," he added.

Gomez is hoping ABS-CBN will be given a provisional authority to operate.

"Hopefully matugunan na, kahit provisionary lang 'yung ibibigay sa prangkisa nila para ang ABS-CBN muling makapag-ere," Gomez said.

On Tuesday, the NTC issued a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN to operate its various television and radio broadcasting stations nationwide, absent a valid congressional franchise which lapsed on May 4, 2020.

Prior to this, Solicitor General Jose Calida has warned commissioners of the NTC that they could face graft charges if they give ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate beyond May 4.

ABS-CBN, for its part, complied with the order as it signed off on Tuesday night while its cable news channel, ANC, remains on air.

The network company could still seek legal remedies and may challenge or appeal the order, according to the NTC.

ABS-CBN has already asked the Supreme Court to stop and nullify NTC's shutdown order. -NB, GMA News