Philippine broadcaster fights order to shut down

MANILA, May 7 (Reuters) - The Philippines' biggest
broadcaster asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to quash an
order by the telecoms regulator to shut down its operations,
saying it undermined freedom of speech and the public right to
information.
The regulator's order for ABS-CBN Corp ABS.PS to cease
operations after its 25-year licence expired has prompted
allegations by critics of President Rodrigo Duterte that his
allies are trying to intimidate the media. The president repeatedly threatened to block the renewal of
ABS-CBN's franchise after the channel angered him during the
2016 presidential election by refusing to air his campaign
commercial.
"The continued operation of ABS-CBN is a matter of public
interest and transcendental importance, it being among the
largest broadcasting entities in terms of coverage and
audience," the company said.
ABS-CBN Corp also asked the Supreme Court to hear its
petition quickly, saying the livelihood of thousands of its
employees and their families were at stake. The 66-year-old entertainment and media conglomerate, said
in it its petition that it employs 11,000 people.
It also operates 21 radio and 38 television stations
nationwide and distributes online content. It went off air on
Tuesday to comply with the regulator's order, to widespread
dismay from labour, business and media groups and opposition
lawmakers.
"To close ABS-CBN now when it is most needed would certainly
be detrimental to the public," it said. "ABS-CBN cannot be
closed without compromising the fundamental guarantees of
freedom of speech and the press."
ABS-CBN said the National Telecommunications Commission
(NTC) abused its discretion when it ordered its closure even
after it indicated in March the broadcasting company could
remain on air pending its licence renewal. ABS-CBN's 25-year
congressional franchise expired on May 4.
"The NTC's bad faith, malice and underhandedness are simply
shocking and abhorrent," ABS-CBN said.
The NTC was not immediately available for comment. The
regulator said on Wednesday it stood by its decision and that
ABS-CBN could seek a temporary restraining order from a court.
Several bills extending ABC-CBN's license have been pending
as a parliament dominated by Duterte's loyalists dragged its
feet over renewing its franchise.
ABS-CBN had apologised for what happened during the 2016
election campaign and the president's office said the mercurial
leader no longer had an axe to grind with the station, despite
past grievances.
"Even if the president would wish to give them a franchise,
under the constitution, only Congress has the power to grant
it," presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Thursday.