Grover C. Magnus 
ABS-CBN’s news program airs online and on the ANC for the first time since the NTC issued a cease-and-desist order against the network
MANILA, Philippines – The ABS-CBN TV Patrol evening newscast first aired since the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a cease-and-desist (CDO) order against the giant medias.
On Thursday May 7 at 6:25 p.m., TV Patrol broadcast in line through ABS-CBN’s website, official Facebook page and YouTube channel, on its iWant content platform, and on its ANC cable news channel.
This is TV Patrol’s first broadcast since signing ABS-CBN on Tuesday, May 5, the same day NTC issued the CDO on the grounds that its 25-year franchise in Congress had expired.
When the network was asked to cease operations, there were at least 9 bills pending in Congress for the renewal of its franchise. The NTC had promised in March that it would grant the network provisional authorization to operate.
Sunday Solicitor General Jose Calida cautioned the NTC against granting ABS-CBN interim authority to operate while its franchise renewal is pending in Congress. Calida had filed a quo warranto petition in February, seeking to halt ABS-CBN operations.
Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra replied to Calida the next day, saying the network could continue to operate despite the franchise expiring.
The chairman of the House committee on legislative franchises, Franz Alvarez, also said on Tuesday that the solicitor general could not challenge the authority of the lower house.
The May 5 shutdown has been criticized, with rights groups, media workers, workgroups, and legislators denouncing this decision as a threat to media freedom and an abuse of power.
President Rodrigo Duterte himself has said he doesn’t want the network’s franchise renewed due to alleged scams and unfair election coverage. He has since accepted the network’s apology, but said the franchise renewal was out of his hands. – Rappler.com
