Boxing legend and senator Manny Pacquiao expresses message for NTC after it did not fulfilled its promise of provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
MANNY PACQUIAO – Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao encourages National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to grant ABS-CBN a provisional authority to operate just as they have promised.
Last March, it has been reported that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) assure the ABS-CBN network to grant them a provisional authority to operate until June 2022 as their franchise renewal case is still pending. This was announced after receiving a resolution from the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Accordingly, Deputy Commissioner Edgardo Cabarios said that as long as a concurrent resolution exists, they will be able to issue provisional permit unless the court restrains them. And in a previous article, Solicitor General (SolGen) Jose Calida, regarding the matter, warned NTC that they will be facing charges if they do that.
And on May 5, just so suddenly, the NTC issued not the provisional permit but the cease and desist order to shut ABS-CBN down. That same day as well, around 7 P.M., the biggest media company in the country signed off which broke millions of hearts.
Now, with the ABS-CBN shut down still among the most controversial and hot topic, the Boxing Legend and Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao reacted and left a statement to the NTC. He expressed that NTC should fulfill their vow of provisional permit to the ABS-CBN.
Just like other artists and famous personalities have said prior, he believed that the shut down is so untimely, especially now that the country is amid the fight versus COVID-19. People are entitled to know current event and reliable news which the network provides.
“There is no question that the law should be implemented at all cost, but we are now in the middle of a war against an unseen enemy. Di natin kailangang magkawatak-watak sa ganitong panahon,” he said based on ABS-CBN online report.
He also cited that NTC has already allowed other companies before to operate minus the franchise temporarily such as Smart Communications, Philippine Telegraph & Telephone Corp. (PT&T), and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
Pacman believes that NTC is not attacking press freedom as there is law only that, his main concern is their act was done in such a wrong timing. It is not only people will lose a source of entertainment, but they will also lose source of factual news and the employees lost their jobs amid this trying time of pandemic.
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