MANILA – Legislators pushed on Wednesday to get the country’s biggest broadcaster back on air, amid widespread shock and dismay over an order by the industry regulator for the station to cease operations after its 25-year license expired.
Aides to President Rodrigo Duterte sought to distance him from Tuesday’s move against ABS-CBN Corp., insisting his office was as surprised as anyone and the mercurial leader no longer had an axe to grind with the station, despite past grievances.
Celebrities, entertainers and fans expressed sorrow on social media and labour, business and media groups urged intervention to spare thousands of jobs, protect free speech and guarantee access to vital public information amid the coronavirus epidemic.
The National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) decision has puzzled many lawmakers and commentators, prompting allegations by Duterte’s critics that his allies are exploiting a strict lockdown and trying to intimidate the media using legal and regulatory processes.
The NTC had in March indicated that ABS-CBN could remain on air pending its license renewal by the lower house of Congress, which only returned from recess on Monday and has been criticized for dragging its heels on the renewal.
There was no indication why the regulator changed its stance, but the office of the solicitor-general said it had cautioned the NTC against allowing ABS to broadcast without a license. The NTC said on Wednesday it stood by its decision and that ABS-CBN could seek a temporary restraining order from a court
Rufus Rodriguez, a pro-Duterte congressman, said it was pointless asking the NTC to change its mind.
“We can’t depend on the NTC anymore. We have to make sure in this one month we are in session, we can give a provisional franchise,” said Rodriguez, who filed a resolution on Wednesday to get ABS-CBN an interim license.
Senate President Vicente Sotto said that if the lower house failed to do that, his chamber could get the job done.
“Bring it to the Senate, we will approve it!,” he said on Twitter.
ABS-CBN has been on tenterhooks for several years because of Duterte’s repeated threats to thwart its renewal bid, his anger stemming from its failure to air some of his paid election campaign commercials, for which it recently apologized. (Reuters)
