Opposition lawmakers hit recall of ABS-CBN frequencies

Members of the Makabayan bloc at the House of Representatives on Friday condemned the National Telecommunications Commission's (NTC) recall of the frequencies assigned to ABS-CBN.

While Bayan Muna Party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat said the frequency recall was a natural consequence of the broadcast network getting denied a franchise, she claimed that ABS-CBN's franchise application was not handled fairly to begin with.

"Ang ginagawang pagkitil sa karapatang magpahayag ng isang news agency, kahit nag-iisa lang ito, ay malaking epekto sa pangkabuuang sitwasyon ng malayang pamamahayag," she said at a virtual press conference.

For his part, Carlos Zarate, also representing Bayan Muna, pointed out that there were still efforts to restore ABS-CBN's franchise at the time NTC recalled the frequencies.

He said there was a move towards a people's initiative to grant ABS-CBN a franchise as well as an appeal by the Makabayan bloc for the franchise application to be heard in the plenary.

"Ito 'yung tuloy-tuloy na panggigipit at talagang gusto nang alisan hindi lang ang ABS-CBN ng boses kundi 'yung mga umaasa pang mga mamamayan na maibalik sa ere ang ABS-CBN," Zarate said.

Two months after a House committee denied ABS-CBN's application for a new franchise, the NTC recalled all frequencies assigned to the broadcast network's radio and TV stations.

This was the latest blow to the media giant, which the NTC originally ordered to cease operations on May 5, a day after its 25-year franchise expired. The House legislative franchise committee denied the company's franchise application on July 10.

Last August, the Supreme Court dismissed ABS-CBN's legal challenge to the NTC's cease and desist order for mootness.—AOL, GMA News