MANILA – Solicitor General Jose Calida has asked the Supreme Court to issue a gag order to stop ABS-CBN and its representatives from further discussing the quo warranto petition he filed last week.
Calida filed a “very urgent motion” on Tuesday, asking the high court to issue the order that bans “parties and persons acting on their behalf” from releasing statements discussing the merits of his plea to forfeit ABS-CBN’s existing franchise.
Calida said that continuous discussion of the quo warranto petition violates the sub judice rule, which prohibits anyone from publicly assessing an ongoing case to avoid pre-judgment.
Calida also accused that the network “engaged in propaganda” after the case was filed last week. He cited a video entitled “Quo warranto petition laban sa ABS-CBN, ano ang ibig sabihin? which aired February 14.
Calida also pointed out in his motion two other videos and a series of commentaries published on ABS-CBN’s website, as well as articles quoting showbiz personalities throwing support behind the Lopez-owned network.
“These would tend to influence public opinion and unfairly encourage the pre-judgment of the instant case,” Calida said.
“Verily, in as much as ABS-CBN unquestionably directed its statements on the merits of the quo warranto case to influence the public and members of this Honorable Court, this Honorable Court must issue an order prohibiting the parties and persons acting on their behalf from releasing any statements discussing the merits of the subject petition,” the Solicitor General said.
The SC, in response to Calida’s urgent motion, has given the ABS-CBN five days to comment on the gag order.
Calida has filed a quo warranto petition before the high court on February 10 requesting to cancel ABS-CBN’s legislative franchise weeks due to “highly abusive practices” in violation of terms set by Congress when it approved ABS-CBN’s franchise in 1995.
Also last week, the Supreme Court has gave the network 10 days to reply to the petition filed by the Office of Solicitor General./PN
