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| Photo via UNTV |
ABS CBN might
lose another platform to air its shows as the National Telecommunications
Commission (NTC) is set to issue an alias cease and desist order against the
company it is using as an alternative broadcasting channel.
According
to a report by Politiko, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba on Monday said a
cease and desist order will be issued on the same day against the Amcara
Broadcasting Network, which owns Channel 43.
Earlier,
Cordoba confirmed that ABS CBN is airing its shows via Channel 43 after its
franchise expired on May 5.
Cordoba
said using the said Channel 43 is also illegal as it is covered by the cease
and desist order issued by NTC against the Kapamilya network.
“Doon po sa
listahan ng aming cease and desist order, sa ikalawang pahina, nakalagay po sa
TV stations, 87-006 Channel 2. Noong binigyan po ng digital TV si ABS-CBN
channel 2, ang kanila pong simulcast ay channel 43,” Cordoba said.
Cordoba
noted that he has received guidance from the Office of the Solicitor General that
the NTC is authorized to issue an alias cease and desist order against the
continued broadcast of ABS-CBN programs through the digibox.
“Ito ngayon
ay inaaral na ng aming legal department. At kung sakaling okay naman ang
kanilang pag-aaral ay we will issue 'yung aming alias cease and desist order
(Our legal department is currently studying this. And if the study turns out
okay, we will issue the alias cease and desist order),” he said.
ABS-CBN
President and chief executive officer (CEO) Carlo Katigbak, for his part, explained
that in the past, the NTC has permitted other broadcast companies -- whose
franchises have expired but their application for renewal is pending in
Congress -- to continue their operations until such time that the franchise
application is either approved or denied.
“We would
like permission to ask the same privilege be extended sana (hopefully) to
ABS-CBN in the spirit of fairness,” Katigbak said.
He
explained that the ABS-CBN is using the franchise of Amcara Broadcasting
Network for its Channel 43 operations through a block time arrangement.
Meanwhile, Anakalusugan
party-list Rep. Mike Defensor said NTC’s move allowing the continued
operation of TV Plus is a usurpation and infringement on the powers of Congress
to grant or deny broadcast franchises.
“Malinaw sa
akin, it is a violation of the powers of Congress. It is a violation of our
constitutional mandate na tayo lang ang magbibigay ng prangkisa (that we are
the only ones [with the power] to grant franchises),” He said
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