MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Media network giant ABS-CBN will be allowed to operate even after its franchise expires on May 4, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Tuesday.
NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said they will follow the advice of the Department of Justice (DOJ), allowing ABS-CBN to operate while its franchise renewal bid is pending in Congress.
In a letter dated February 12,聽 NTC sought advice from DOJ on whether or not to allow ABS-CBN to continue its operations beyond May 4.
Quoting DOJ鈥檚 reply to NTC, Cordoba said: 鈥淏ased on the foregoing discussions, there is sufficient equitable basis to allow broadcast entities to continue operating while the bills on the renewal of their respective franchise with Congress.鈥�
He then said that NTC will 鈥渓ikely鈥� issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN.
鈥淭he NTC will follow the latest advice of the DOJ and let ABS-CBN continue operations based on equity,鈥� Cordoba said.