REP. LAWRENCE “LAW” H. FORTUN
Agusan del Norte 1st District
Member for the Minority
Co-Author, HR 639 supporting the renewal of ABS-CBN Franchise
A lawyer by profession | Mobile number 09177292437
BREAKING NEWS REACTION TO NTC ORDER ON ABS-CBN CESSATION OF OPERATIONS
The shit has hit the fan.
The National Telecommunications Commission has chosen to blatantly disregard the constitutional authority and prerogative of Congress on legislative franchises.
This is a grave affront to both Houses of Congress where the NTC appeared in separate hearings and made a clear commitment to issue a provisional authority if there is clear and categorical advice from us of our intent to allow provisional operation pending renewal of the subject franchises.
NTC is effectively in contempt of Congress at this point.
This will go down in history as the worst action of this agency in gross and wanton disregard of the expressed intent of Congress, its impact on press freedom and the plight of thousands of workers especially in this time of great crisis.
What ABS-CBN does at this point and onwards is their judgment call. We in Congress will more strongly assert our constitutional authority.
I, for one, will demand that the NTC appear before Congress during Question Hour. If they refuse to attend, Congress has the power to subpoena them. If they disregard the subpoena of Congress, they can be compelled to attend Question Hour.
I implore upon the NTC to reconsider their action. There is still time for them to take it back. If they do not then they risk wrath of the fire and brimstone kind. (END)