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Pangilinan urges SC to intervene after NTC halted ops of Channel 43, SkyCable
By DONA MAGSINO,GMA News Senator Francis Pangilinan on Wednesday asked for intervention of the Supreme Court to stop the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) from halting the operations of ABS-CBN subsidiary SkyCable Corp. and Channel 43 which airs ABS-CBN TV Plus programs.
"We hope the Supreme Court steps on the brakes on this madness. Libu-libong mga empleyado ng [i]stasyon ang mawawalan ng trabaho at milyon-milyon naman na manunuod ang mawawalan ng access sa impormasyon sa kahibangan na ito," Pangilinan said in a statement.
"Ang mga ganid sa kapangyarihan walang hangganan liban na lang kung tutulan at pigilan ng ating mga korte o di kaya ng taumbayan sa pamamagitan ng mariing pagtutol at pagkondena," he added.
Pangilinan said the public should not cower to speak against the abuses and lapses of the administration.
"Pilit na dinidiin ang panggigipit habang kapalpakan naman ang ipinapakita sa pagsugpo sa COVID at pagbigay ng ayuda sa wala nang makain," he said.
On Tuesday, the NTC ordered SkyCable to "immediately cease and desist operating its Direct Broadcast Satellite Service," underscoring that the legislative franchise granted to SkyCable already expired on May 4.
An "alias" order was also issued by NTC, directing ABS-CBN to cease and desist from operating digital TV transmission in Metro Manila using channel 43.
To recall, ABS-CBN has been off-air since May 5 after the NTC issued a cease and desist order against it. The media network's 25-year franchise lapsed while Congress is still deliberating its application for renewal.
The NTC previously said it would heed the advice of the Department of Justice and both houses of Congress to allow the company to continue broadcasting "based on equity," as other companies had been previously allowed to do so. The NTC, however, ended up issuing a closure order.
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ABS-CBN asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the NTC's cease and desist order but the SC deliberations on the matter will only resume on July 13, according to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta.
Another opposition Senator Risa Hontiveros said the NTC's issuance of orders to SkyCable and Channel 43 amid a health crisis is alarming.
"Nakakabahala. Sa panahon ng pandemiya, nililimitahan pa natin lalo ang access ng publiko sa mahahalagang mga impormasyon. Mas dinadagdagan din lalo natin ang mga Pilipinong mawawalan ng trabaho," Hontiveros said in a separate statement.
"Because we are in a crisis and because access to information is crucial, NTC should reconsider the said cease-and-desist order," she added.
Hontiveros pointed out that the Senate already adopted a resolution last month, urging the NTC to reconsider the closure order it initially issued against ABS-CBN.
Senator Sonny Angara also expressed dismay on the developments as he slammed the apparent "double standard."
"Grabe double standard dito—'yung iba pinayagan mag-operate habang dinisiyunan ang prangkisa; ito tigok kaagad. 'Di man lang inisip mga tao doon," he said.
"It's painful to watch the government be the cause of so much suffering and hardship for thousands of ordinary, working Filipinos," he added.—AOL, GMA News