REP. LAWRENCE “LAW” H. FORTUN
Agusan del Norte 1st District
Member in the Minority
Co-Author, HR 639 supporting the renewal of ABS-CBN Franchise
A lawyer by profession | Mobile number 09177292437
OSG, NTC SUB JUDICE SHIELD IS GONE WITH SC DISMISSAL OF QUO WARRANTO PETITION
I already anticipated this. I said before that if Congress does not act on the franchise bills until the expiration, the Solicitor General’s petition would become moot and academic.
It would have been most welcome if the Supreme Court resolved the issues raised in the petition and dismissed the action for lack of merit and not just because it has become moot and academic.
We, in the House Minority, will be more direct in our questions in the days ahead on those opposed to the ABS-CBN Franchise.
Now, there’s no more sub judice to invoke in the House hearings as far as the issues raised in the dismissed quo warranto petition are concerned.
The Office of the Solicitor General or its representatives, the NTC and the SEC can no longer refuse to answer our questions on the ground of sub judice when they appear before Congress.
All the more, the grounds raised to deny ABS-CBN the renewal of its franchise will be further exposed to be devoid of merit and should not be lent credence by Congress.
We hope that shortly after this, the Supreme Court will resolve to void the NTC’s cease and desist order and allow ABS-CBN to resume airing pending final resolution by Congress on its application for renewal or new franchise. (END)