MANILA, NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) order ABS-CBN to stop broadcasting due to expired franchise.

Last May 4, 2020 was the last day of the validity of the broadcasting network license to operate.

NTC stressed the R.A. 3846 “Radio Control Law” wherein this states that no broadcasting network is allowed to operate or transmit and broadcast through television or any radio sets without the proper license issued by the Congress of the Philippines.

NTC added the 25 years franchise of the network had been expired and they do not have any right to resume their operations exept the Congress allows them to do so.

Furthermore, NTC orders closure of ABS CBN regional branches and schedules a case hearing if the government will allow them to continue their usual operation or not after the enhanced quarantine is degraded to general community quarantine.

Actually, there is a billed filed for the extension of the network franchise but not yet tackled due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano assures that if everything goes to normal the ABS CBN franchise renewal will be their first priority to tackle and so on.

Last year the CEO of ABS CBN Carlo Catigbak issues an apology to the President with regards to the unfair airing of political ads during elections.

Eventually the President considers the apology but clarified that the rule of law must prevail.