The Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss the quo warranto plea filed by Solicitor General Jose Calida against broadcasting giant ABS-CBN Corp. will be respected by the Palace, they announced.
“We respect the decision of the High Court, a separate and co-equal branch of government, on the quo warranto case filed against ABS-CBN Corporation,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.
Solicitor General Calida filed a petition for quo warranto last February, asking the SC to nullify ABS-CBN’s franchise due to the networks’ supposed violations of conditions.
Calida alleged that ABS-CBN allowed foreign entities to take part in the ownership of a Philippine mass media entity, which is a violation of the 1987 Constitution.
Roque said the Palace would let Calida take appropriate legal actions following the SC’s latest ruling.
“We leave it to the Solicitor-General as the Petitioner to decide on his next legal steps,” he said.
ABS-CBN’s franchise already expired on May 4 after Congress failed to give the network a new franchise.
ABS-CBN went off the air on May 5 after the NTC issued a cease and desist order against the local media giant following the expiration of its franchise.
