Hontiveros tells gov't: Back off from ABS-CBN franchise renewal bid

Senator Risa Hontiveros on Friday urged the government to step aside and stop hampering ABS-CBN's push to renew its legislative franchise, and to focus instead on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Government should get out of the way of the renewal of the franchise of ABS-CBN rather than bearing down on it, stepping on it when [the] government is already forcing it to its knees," Hontiveros said in an interview on CNN-Philippines.

"Government, including our counterparts in the House, should really focus on our COVID-19 response and on saving the pre-pandemic jobs, saving the MSMEs and laying the groundwork for stimulating the economy and responding long term to our health needs rather than closing a major network," she added.

On Tuesday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ordered SkyCable—a subsidiary of ABS-CBN—to "immediately cease and desist operating its Direct Broadcast Satellite Service," underscoring that the legislative franchise granted to SkyCable already expired on May 4.

It also issued an "alias" order, directing ABS-CBN to cease and desist from operating digital TV transmission in Metro Manila using channel 43.

Since May 5, the  ABS-CBN has been off-air, 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.

Earlier, the NTC 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. However, it ended up issuing a closure order.

Another lawmaker from the minority bloc, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, said the Supreme Court must intervene to stop the "madness" on closure of broadcast platforms.

"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," he said.

ABS-CBN has previously asked the Supreme Court to issue a temporary restraining order against the NTC's order, but the SC deliberations on the matter will only resume on July 13, according to Chief Justice Diosdado Peralta. —LBG, GMA News