Rep. Defensor on NTC order vs. ABS-CBN: Perjury po ito

A party-list lawmaker on Friday said National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) officials are liable to criminal charges for issuing cease and desist order on ABS-CBN, which is allegedly contrary to the commitment the commission made to Congress in March.

At a virtual press conference, Anak Kalusugan party-list Representative Michael Defensor accused NTC of "fooling" Congress.

"Hindi po tama na basta na lang mawawalan ng trabaho ang mga tao dahil sa biglaan pagsara ng ABS-CBN. Panloloko po ang ginawa ng NTC sa Kongreso," he said.

"Perjury po ito, violation ng Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials at violation ng Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act naman sa Solicitor General."

Defensor said in March, the NTC told Congress it would issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN that would allow it to operate until Congress finally decides on its franchise application. He said NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba himself said this under oath during a legislative inquiry.

"Today, we serve a fair warning to those public officials who think they can come to the House of the People to lie and deceive with impunity. Know this: we will not stand for it and your actions will have serious consequences. For when you lie to us, you lie to the whole nation,” Defensor, who filed a Resolution 846 to probe NTC and Calida for their actions, said in a statement.

The network's 25-year franchise expired on May 4. The NTC issued the cease and desist order the following day.

Defensor, vice chair of House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, described NTC's move as "shocking."

"Nakakagulat itong NTC kasi kung maaga nila sinabi na hindi puwede [mag-issue ng provisional authority pag walang franchise], eh di sana nagawan namin ng solusyon," he said.

"Pero ang sinabi ng NTC, puwede sila mag-issue ng provisional authority para mabigyan kami ng pagkakataon na matalakay ito at dahil nangyari na rin iyon noong nakaraan," he added.

Defensor, during the press briefing, also slammed Solicitor General Jose Calida, who warned NTC officials that they could be charged in court if they issue a provisional authority on ABS-CBN.

"Itong ginawa ng Solicitor General na  para itulak ang NTC na i-cancel ang pag-broadcast ng ABS-CBN, mali rin po iyon," he said.

In the statement, Defensor said, "This is simply about people who lied and conspired to deceive, not just Congress, but the entire government — for their political ends. This is a conspiracy of the lowest and most despicable kind — one that was perpetrated when Filipinos are dying and in desperate need of assistance."

Defensor also argued that the NTC and the OSG subverted the plenary authority of the House of Representatives to grant, deny, extend, revoke or modify broadcast franchises, including having the primary jurisdiction to make an initial determination whether an application for a legislative franchise should be granted or denied.

"Such contemptuous and criminal acts utterly disrespect the House of Representatives and the Senate," he said.

In a May 5 radio interview, NTC Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said the commission’s decision was carefully studied by its legal team and had nothing to do with Calida's warning.

Cabarios also said the NTC has never issued a provisional authority to any expiring congressional franchise.

Urgent

Meanwhile, Defensor said it is now urgent to hear the pending bills seeking franchise renewal for ABS-CBN, which went off air hours after it received the cease and desist order from NTC.

"Ngayon na puwede mawalan ng trabaho ang mga tao at nawalan tayo ng isang avenue para makakuha ng impormasyon, it has become an urgent concern," he said.

Defensor said that the House of Representatives, led by Speaker Alan Cayetano, will preside in a meeting scheduled on Monday on what steps to take concerning the bills seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal and the NTC taking back its word.

Bills seeking ABS-CBN franchise renewal have been filed in 2014, and refiled again in 2016 and 2019. These bills, however, gathered dust in the House.

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises only conducted its first and only hearing on the pending bills on March 10.

But Defensor, like Cayetano, maintained that the House did its mandate as shown by the commitment it got from NTC.

"We did enough, and we did consensus building, kaya nga nagkaroon ng commitment sa NTC," he said. --KBK, GMA News