Pagbo-broadcast ng ABS-CBN, ipinatitigil na ng NTC

AKALA namin tuloy-tuloy pa rin ang ABS-CBN sa pagbo-broadcast dahil napanood pa namin ang ilang programa nila noong Lunes ng gabi. Martes ng umaga, nakabantay ang mga tao, kung babalik ba ang ABS-CBN. Nagbalik nga dahil narinig si kabayang Noli de Castro sa dzMM. Umere ang Umagang kay Ganda sa ABS-CBN. Sa cable, mayroong ANC, mayroong KBO, mayroong Knowledge Channel, mayroong Cinemo. May Cinema One.

Hindi namin alam kung ano ang talagang nangyari, dahil Lunes nagdedebate pa sila kung magpapatuloy nga ba ang ABS-CBN o hindi. Nagtatalo pa sila kung legal ba iyon o hindi.

Binantaan ni Solicitor General Jose Calida na kakasuhan niya ang mga commissioner ng NTC kung magpapalabas ang mga iyon ng provisional permit para magpatuloy ang ABS-CBN. Iginiit naman ni Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano ang kanilang kahilingan sa NTC na palabasin ang provisional permit habang dinidinig pa nila ang mga panukalang batas na nagbibigay ng franchise sa ABS-CBN. Nagpadala rin ng kaparehong resolusyon ang Senado sa NTC. Ang mabigat na desisyon ay ang sinabi ng presidential spokesman, na kung ano ang desisyon ng NTC iyon ang ipatutupad ng presidente.

Ang usapan nga, ang sinabi ni Presidente Digong ay haharangin niya ang franchise renewal ng ABS-CBN dahil sa atraso sa kanya. Pero hindi niya sinabing patitigilin iyon sa broadcast. Iyan ang nangyayari ngayon. Maaaring mabimbin ang franchise renewal ng ABS-CBN hanggang 2022, pero habang hindi sila pinatitigil, makapagpapatuloy sila. Win-win silang lahat.

Pero bigla kaming nagulat nang bandang hapon ay nakatanggap kami ng kopya ng pagpapatigil ng pagbo-broadcast sa ABS-CBN mula sa NTC. Iniutos ng NTC ang agarang pagpapatigil sa lahat ng broadcast operations ng ABS-CBN.

Sa inilabas na Cease and Desist Order ng NTC laban sa ABS-CBN, sinabi nitong hindi na maaaring magsahimpapawid ang network, pati na ang mga TV at radio stations nito sa mga probinsiya.

Nakasaad sa order ng NTC na, “The National Telecommunications Communications (NTC) today issued a Cease and Desist Order against  ABS-CBN due to the expiration of its congressional franchise.”

 Sinabi pa ng NTC na, “Upon the expiration of RA 7966, ABS-CBN no longer has a valid and subsisting congressional franchise as required by Act No. 3846.

“The NTC Regional Offices shall implement the closure order in their respective areas of jurisdiction.”

Bale nagbigay sila ng 10 araw sa ABS-CBN para magpaliwanag kung bakit hindi kailangang bawiin ng gobyerno ang kanilang mga frequencie. Kabilang dito ang Channel 2, ang 630 khz sa AM radio, at 101.9 khz sa FM.

 

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Statement on the cease and desist order issued by the NTC to ABS-CBN

MILLIONS of Filipinos will lose their source of news and entertainment when ABS-CBN is ordered to go off-air on TV and radio tonight (5 May 2020) when people need crucial and timely information as the nation deals with the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is in compliance with the cease and desist order issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) today that prohibits ABS-CBN from continuing its broadcast operations effective immediately.
Despite Senate Resolution No. 40, the House of Representatives’ committee on legislative franchises’ letter, the guidance of the Department of Justice, and the sworn statement of NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, the NTC did not grant ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate while its franchise renewal remains pending in Congress.
In an interview with DZMM last week, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano even gave an assurance that there is no move to shut down the network.
ABS-CBN has been providing comprehensive news coverage on the public health crisis and working with local governments and the private sector in providing food and basic goods for those in need through its “Pantawid ng Pag-ibig” campaign. To date, it has delivered over P300 million worth of goods for the benefit of over 600,000 families affected by the enhanced community quarantine.
We trust that the government will decide on our franchise with the best interest of the Filipino people in mind, recognizing ABS-CBN’s role and efforts in providing the latest news and information during these challenging times.
ABS-CBN remains committed to being in the service of the Filipino and we will find ways to continue providing meaningful service to them.

 

 

 

HATAWAN
ni Ed de Leon