SolGen Calida continues political vendetta against ABS-CBN - Zarate

House Deputy Minority and Bayan Muna party-list representative Leader Carlos Zarate slams Solicitor General for the warning it gave to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) against issuing a provisional authority to the country’s biggest media network- ABS-CBN.

Earlier Solicitor General Jose Calida warned the NTC that they could face charges under the Anti-Graft and Corruption act if they would grant the Lopez-owned network a provisional authority without a franchise being given by the House of Representatives.


A total contrast to the stand of Zarate since he “strongly” urged the NTC to grant the provisional authority to ABS-CBN immediately, saying it has “all the legal and historical grounds to do so.”

House Deputy Minority and Bayan Muna party-list representative Leader Carlos Zarate
(Photo credit to owner)

 

“SolGen Calida’s statement only shows his severe aversion for press freedom as he even timed such a threat on World Press Freedom Day,” Bayan Muna party-list representative Zarate said in a statement.

Zarate aid NTC would lose its autonomy should it heed Calida’s warning.

“The NTC being the principal and client is not absolutely bound by the SolGen’s legal opinion, much more of threats. Kowtowing to Calida’s threats means a goodbye NTC’s autonomy, a goodbye to press freedom,” the lawmaker said.

“Then, only the ones who do not question the anti-democratic and anti-people policies of the administration will remain, just like the time of the dictator Marcos,” he added.

Zarate further reasons out that the SolGen failed to take into fact that ABS-CBN “is very important in the information dissemination and relief operations” as the country faces this pandemic brought about by the coronavirus.

“Even in the midst of crisis, it appears, continued political vendetta against the network is still primordial to the OSG,” he said.

“We again strongly urge the NTC to rise to the challenge and issue the provisional permit to ABS-CBN now even as the House is deliberating the renewal of its franchise,” he added.

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Report from PDI

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