House to hold NTC in Contempt

The House of Representatives on Monday threatened the National Telecommunications Commission with contempt for issuing a cease and desist order against ABS-CBN corporation. 

The Legislative Franchise Committee chaired by Rep. Franz Alvarez ordered the NTC to respond within 72 hours. 

The order also mentions the failure of the NTC to deliver on its previous promise to grant a provisional authority for ABS-CBN to operate. 

"The act of the NTC constitutes undue interference on and disobedience to the exercise of the power of the House of Representatives, and therefore, an affront to its dignity and an inexcusable disrespect of its authority,” said the franchise committee. 

Isabela representative and committee vice-chair Tonypet Albano said the House will push for NTC’s abolition should the agency be cited for contempt. 

Representatives filed at least 11 bills in the 18th Congress to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN for another 25 years after its expiration on May 4.

The House however started deliberating on the franchise issue on March 10. Quarantine measures prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic started on March 16. 

Last friday, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano criticized the NTC for blindsiding them in issuing the cease and desist order. He also blamed Solicitor General Jose Calida for pressuring the agency to shutter the media company. 

Calida had threatened to hold NTC executives liable for graft should they grant a temporary permit to ABS-CBN.