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HUMINGI ng paumanhin kahapon ang National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) sa Kamara sa pagtakas sa pangako na bibigyan nila ng provisional authority ang ABS-CBN habang dinidinig ng lehislatura ang aplikasyon ng media company para sa prankisa.
Pumunta ang mga opisyal ng NTC sa Kamara nang hingian sila ng paliwanag para hindi sila i-contempt dahil sa pagsisinunagaling.
“Please rest assured that we intended no disrespect whatsoever towards Congress. On the contrary, it was precisely NTC’s full respect and recognition for Congress’ sole prerogatives that led it to desist from issuing a PA and, thereafter, to conclude that it was legally bound to issue a CDO,” pahayag ng NTC sa sulat sa Kamara na pinirmahan ni NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, deputy commissioners Edgardo Cabarios, Delilah Deles, at ang namumuno sa legal branch na si Ella Blanca Lopez.
Binigyan ng Kamara ang NTC ng 72 oras para magpaliwanag kung bakit naglabas sila ng cease-and-desist order na nagresulta sa pagsasara ng media network.
Ayon kay Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, nadiskaril ang ginagawa pagsugpo ng Kamara sa COVID-19 dahil sa ginawa ng NTC.
“The NTC’s act has forced the hand of the House to act on the franchise bills,” ani Cayetano.
“We are deeply saddened as well for the inconvenience we may have caused Congress. Again, we express our contriteness and sincere apologies for the ensuing confusion this has caused, not the least because we are in the midst of a crisis,” ayon sa NTC.
Inamin rin ng NTC na ikinonsidera nila ang sulat ni Solicitor General (Jose Calida) na ang pag-iisyu ng provisional authority ay labag sa Saligang Batas.
“Correspondingly, the OSG cautioned the NTC that its issuance of the PA would make its members liable for criminal prosecution,” anila.
“If the NTC were to issue a PA, it would have amounted to an encroachment into the exclusive domain of Congress. We understand that the licensing power of the NTC may only arise from the necessary delegation of power from the Congress through a law. NTC would thus abide by any law passed by Congress which may extend all telecommunication and broadcasting legislative franchises that expired during the public health emergency, if there be any,” ayon sa sulat ng NTC.
Pag-aaralan ng Kamara ang sagot ng NTC at magpapasya kung itutuloy ang contempt laban sa ahensiya.
“We shall advise the NTC in due course of the Committee’s actions with regard to the foregoing matters,” ayon kay Rep. Chikoy Alvarez, ang hepe ng House Committee on Legislative franchises. (GERRY BALDO)
