Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman: NTC had no power to issue a provisional franchise to the Lopez-owned media giant

Photo source: The Manila Times

Aba, lumilinaw na nga! At biglang tumalino si Albay Representative Edcel Lagman kompara sa 9 na Senators na naghain ng kanilang Concurrent Resolution requesting NTC to issue a provisional authority to ABS-CBN. 

Alam natin lahat na si Congressman Lagman ng Albay ay isang Dilawan. Ngayon nagpatotoo siya sa kanyang sarili at kanyang pinatunayan na alam niya ang batas - para narin niyang ne-lecturan ang 9 na mambabatas sa Senado na naghain ng kanilang Concurrent Resolution to extend ABS-CBN operation.

Based from the report of the Manila Times - various legal personalities have conveyed different perspectives on whether it can operate past the expiration of the franchise of ABS-CBN on May 4. 

Read also: 9 Senador pabor sa extension ng ABS-CBN operation

They aired their views after Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) had no power to issue a provisional franchise to the Lopez-owned media giant.

“The NTC has no jurisdiction over an applicant who has no existing franchise or has an expired franchise that has not been renewed by Congress by means of an appropriate law,” Lagman noted.

Hindi sa kinukonsensha ko ang Senado - lalo na po doon sa 9 na Senador na lumalabas na kulang sa kaalaman kung ano ang nakasulat sa saligang batas. Sa pagkakataong ito - bibigyan ko si Albay Rep Edcel Lagman ng 7 scores out of 10 dahil hindi niya niyurakan ang batas na nakasaad sa ating Saligang Batas.

Source of idea and other info: ABS-CBN Franchise Timeline - The Manila Times