Press Release
May 11, 2020

Manifestation of Sen. Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan on Senate Resolution 395 urging the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) to reconsider its shutdown order against ABS-CBN

"I just wanted to manifest that we support the resolution. There were instances in the past despite the fact that a case had been filed before the Supreme Court on matters of national concern, national interest, or public interest that the Senate of the Philippines took on a position and approved a resolution.

If I recall correctly, 2006 for example, the Senate of the Philippines passed a resolution the sense of the Senate that EO 464 was illegal. If you would recall, EO 464 was President Arroyo's Executive Order that prohibited executive officials from appearing before Congress. The Senate of the Philippines expressed its sense, or the Senate in a resolution, saying that EO 464 was contrary to the Constitution, notwithstanding the fact that the matter was before the Supreme Court.

In another incident or another situation, the declaration of a state of emergency by President Arroyo, also in 2006. It was a sense of the Senate resolution despite the fact that the case was brought before the Supreme Court, the arrest of columnist Randy David and the raid on the Daily Tribune undertaking 2006 the Senate, in a resolution adopted, declared or at least expressed its sense that the arrest of Randy David and the raid on the Daily Tribune was unconstitutional and unlawful.

For that, Mr. President, I believe there has been past incidence or there has been precedence where despite the fact that a matter is pending before the Supreme Court, the Senate of the Philippines has expressed its sense by way of adopting a resolution.

That's why in this sense, I believe this is a matter of public interest and therefore I support the resolution."

* Senator Risa Hontiveros is the principal author and sponsor of Senate Resolution 395. Other co-authors of the resolution are Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Franklin Drilon, Ralph Recto, Sonny Angara, Ma. Lourdes Nancy Binay, Win Gatchalian, Leila De Lima, Manuel Lapid, Emmanuel Pacquiao, and Joel Villanueva

Sen Pangilinan is also a co-author of Senate Bill 1521 seeking to grant provisional franchise to ABS-CBN until June 30, 2022, as Congress deliberates on the renewal of its franchise, which expired on May 4, 2020.

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