Republic of the Philippines

NATIONAL TELECOMMT'NICATIONS COMMISSION

Quezon City

NATIONAL
TELEICOMMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION
Complainant, NTC AI)M. CASE NO.
-versus- 20.20-oo8
ABS.CBN CORFORATION
Respondent.

x----------- ------------x

DECISION

This resolves the case initiated by the commission against

respondent ABS-CBN Corporation ("ABS-CBN") for the recall of all radio
frequencies assigned to it due to lack of a congressional franchise.

Republic Act No. 7966, otherwise known as "An Act Granting the
ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation a Franchise to Construct, Install,
Operate and Maintain Television and Radio Broadcasting Stations in
the Philippines, and for other Purposes'was enacted on 30 March l99s
with a term of twenty-five (25) years from its effectivity. Section 15 of
RA 7966 provides that the law shall be effective fifteen (15) days from
its date of publication. RA 7966 was duly published on 19 April 199s
and became effective fifteen (15) days therefrom on 04 May 1995, and
therefore expired on 04 May 2O2O.

Upon the expiration of Respondent's legislative franchise under

RA 7966 on 05 May 2o2o, the commission issued an order directing
Respondent to cease and desist from operating its radio and television

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-OOA
DECISION

stations and to explain in writing why the frequencies assigned to it

should not be recalled for lack of legislative franchise.

On 08 May 2020, the Commission was served a copy of the

Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition (With Urgent Applications for the
Issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order andlor a Writ of Preliminary
Injunction)t filed by Respondent before the Supreme Court to nullify
the Cease and Desist Order ("CDO") issued by this Commission in this
case.

On 15 May 2O2O, Respondent filed its Verified Answer and

Compliance ("Answer") to the 05 May 2O2O Order of the Commission.
Respondent maintained that its assigned frequencies should not be
recalled, and instead, claimed that the instant administrative case
should be suspended to await the conclusion of the legislative process
on its franchise application, and the resolution of the Petition pending
before the Supreme Court. According to Respondent,

a. The grant of legislative franchise to Respondent was forthcoming

and the recall of the assigned frequencies would thus be useless
and costly exercise in contravention of the intent and desire of
Congress;

b. The retention of the assigned frequencies by Respondent is

consistent with legislative policy;

c. The recall of Respondent's assigned frequencies is inextricably

intertwined with the issues raised before the supreme court in
relation to the cDo, and hence, the instant proceedings must be
suspended pending the resolution of the case before the Supreme
Court; and

I G.R. No. 252119.

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-008
DECISION

d. The recall of Respondent's assigned frequencies may only be done

after hearing and compliance with the requisite due process.

On 30 June 2O2O, the Commission issued an Order (Alias Cease

and Desist Order) directing Respondent to cease and desist from
operating digital TV transmission in Metro Manila using Channel 43.

On 10 July the House of Representatives Committee on

2O2O,
Legislative Franchises resolved to deny Respondent's application for a
legislative franchise.

On 03 August 2O2O, the Commission, pursuant to Section 2, Rule

1 1, Part IV of the NTC Rules of Practice, issued a Notice setting the case
for clarificatory Hearing on 20 August 2o2o, and directing Respondent
to submit its Verified Position Paper on whether the denial of its
franchise application by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises
has rendered the instant case, particularly the remaining issue of the
recall of assigned frequencies, moot.

On the scheduled Clarificatory Hearing, Respondent filed a

Manifestation in lieu of a Verified Position Paper, alleging that:

"On 2O JuIg 2O20 the co-authors of House BiIl No. 6052 (one of
tte bills for renewal of ABS-CBN's legislatiue franchise) and
House BiIl No. 639 (whichurged reporting outfor plenary action
a consolidated uersion of ttrc bills for ttrc renewal of its
franchise) moued that the committee on Legislatiue Franchises
submit i/s Resolution denging ABS-CB/V'S franchise
application, and the Report of the TecLutical Working Group
which recommended the denial, to tte plenary for ratification
and to decide on the issue. xxx ABS-IBN respectfullg reaues
the disposition of tle instant case to the sound discretion of the
H onorab Ie C o mmis sion. "

Meanwhile, on 25 August 2o2o, the Supreme court dismissed

Respondent's Petition in G.R. No. 2s2L 19 on the ground of mootness,

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-008
DECISION

as a consequence of the denial of Respondent's franchise application

by the House of Representatives.

We now resolve.

Respondent has no valid franchise to continue operating

television and radio broadcasting stations nationwide.

Act No. 3846, otherwise known as "An Act Providing for the
Regulation of Public and Radio Communications in the Philippines and
for Other Purposes" (Radio Control Law), as amended, provides that:

"Sec. 1. No person, firm, companA, association, or corporation

slnll construct, install, establistt" or operate a radio
transmitting station, or a radio receiuing station used for
ommercial purposes, or a radio broadcasting station, without
tnuing first obtained a franchise therefor from the Congress o/
the Philippines. )ooc"

A franchise is a legislative authority within the exclusive domain

of Congress, and as stated above, the Congress had already denied
Respondent's application for legislative franchise on 10 July 2O2O.
Moreover, the Supreme Court En Banc affirmed the full authority of
Congress over the grant of a legislative franchise when it resolved to
dismiss Respondent's petition for being moot.

Indubitably, the denial of Respondent's franchise renewal

application by Congress, coupled with the denial of Respondent's
Petition by the Supreme Court, lead to no other conclusion except that
Respondent had already lost the privilege of installing, operating, and
maintaining radio broadcasting stations in the country.

Consequentially, absent a valid legislative franchise, the recall of

the frequencies assigned to Respondent is warranted.

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-OO8
DECISION

WHEREFORE, absent a valid legislative franchise, the

Commission hereby renders judgment as follows:

1. ALL assigned frequencies/channels assigned to ABS-CBN

CORPORATION are herebv RECALLED:
CASE NO. CALL-SIGN FREQUENCY LOCATION
A.M Radio Station
87-006 DZMM-AM 630kHz Obando, Bulacan
81-067 DYAP-AM 765kHz Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
90-058 DYAB-AM l5l2 kHz Cebu City
90-062 DXAB-AM 1296KHZ Davao City, Davao del Sur
95-372 DYRV-AM 1 188 kHz Catbalogan City, Western Samar
FM Radio Station
87-006 DWRR-FM 101.9MH2 Antipolo City, Rizal
88- 14 1 DZRR-FM 103.1MH2 Baguio City, Benguet
94-150 DWEL-FM 95.SMHz San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte
95-181 DWEC-FM 94.3 MHz Dagupan City, Pangasinan
20t6-o26 DWBA-FM 9l.3MHz Santiago City, Isabela
81-067 DYCU-FM 99.9 MHz Puerto Princesa City, Palawan
93-089 DWRD-FM 93.9MHz Legaspi City, Albay
95-183 DWAC-FM 93.5 MHz Naga City, Camarines Sur
2016-025 PA 99.3 MHz Roxas City, Capiz
95-185 DYMC-FM 9t.LMHZ Iloilo City
88-140 DYOO-FM 101.5 MHz Bacolod, Negros Occidental
88-142 DYLS-FM 97.1MHz Cebu City, Mt. Busay
95-187 DYTC-FM 94.3MHz Tacloban City, Leyte
95-r82 DXFH-FM 98.7MHz Zamboanga City, Zarnboanga del Sur
88-139 DXRR-FM 101.1 MHz Davao City, Davao del Sur
97-O93 DXBC-FM General Santos City (lagao), South
92.7 MHz
Cotabato
94-t49 DXPS-FM 95.1 MHz Cotabato City, Maguindanao
95-184 DXEC-FM 91.9 MHz Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
Tt/ Stations
cl].2
87-006 DWWX-TV Ch. 43 (for DTT
Quezon City, Metro Manila
Transition)
Ch. 16 (for DTT)
2000-t43 DWAC-TV ch. 23 Quezon City, Metro Manila
94-193 DZRR-TV ch.32 Mt. Sto. Tomas, Benguet
Ch. 2 (in)
87-125 D-3-ZO Mt. Sto. Tomas, Benguet
Ch. 3 (out)
Ch.2 (in)
89-068 D-IT-ZZ Mt. Amuyao, Mt. Frovince
Ch. 11 (out)

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-008
DECISION

CASE NO. CALL.SIGN FREQUENCY LOCATION

95-O82 DWRD-TV ch.7 San Nicolas. Ilocos Norte
2003-089 DZCG-TV ch. 11 Bantay (Mt. Kaniao), Ilocos Sur
2008-r34 DWBK-TV ch.34 Bantay (Mt. Kaniao), Ilocos Sur
97-274 DWAI-TV cl].2 Santiago City, Isabela
96-338 DWAF-TV ch.3 Tuguegarao, Cagayan
2007-t38 DWAX-TV ch.9 Aparri, Cagayan
2009-085 DWCM-TV ch. 11 Basco. Batanes
2004-o93 DWBY-TV ch.34 San Miguel, Bulacan
2002-rro DWTC-TV ch.34 Tarlac Citv. Tarlac
2003-o87 DWIN-TV ch.46 San Fernando, Pampanga
Ch.2 (in)
89-025 D-12-ZT Olongapo City, Zambales
Ch. 12 (out)
Ch. 2 (in)
89-031 D-13-ZA Botolan, Zambales
Ch. 13 (out)
2007-t35 DZAB-TV ch. 11 San Jose, Occidental Mindoro
2005-o22 DWAR-TV ch.40 Jala-Jala, Rizal
2003-88
DWLY-TV ch.46 San Pablo City, Laguna
95-082
DZAD-TV Ch.2 (in)
89-O22 Mt. Banoy, Batangas
relay Ch. 10 (out)
2007-r47 DZAC-TV c}].7 Virac. Catanduanes
99-252 DWAW-TV ch.7 Sorsogon, Sorsogon
89-030 DZNC-TV ch.11 Naga City, Camarines Sur
89-O29 DZAE-TV ch.4 Legaspi City, Mt. Bariw, Albay
Ch. a (in)
89-026 D-IO-ZC Tabaco. Albav
Ch. 10 (out)
87-126 DYXL-TV ch. 4
Murcia, Mt. Kanlandong, Negros
Occidental
97-283 DYEZ-TV ch.9 Kalibo, Aklan
94-t89 DYAJ-TV ch. 38 Iloilo City, Iloilo
94-188 DYAT-TV ch. 40 Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
87-r28 DYCB-TV ch.3 Cebu City, Mt. Busay, Cebu
Ch. 3 (in)
89-O23 D-9-YA Jagna, Bohol
Ch. 9 (out)
96-O22 DYMA-TV ch. 12 Valencia, Mt. Palimpinon, Negros Oriental
93-041 DYAB-TV ct].2 Tacloban City, Mt. Naga-Naga, Leyte
2000-2rr DXLL-TV ch. 3 Zarnboanga City, Zambo€rnga del Sur
2006-095 DXCS-TV ch.4 Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental
96-219 DXAG-TV ch. 4 Iligan City, Lanao del Norte
Ch.3 (in)
89-O27 D-2-XB Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon
Ch. 2 (out)
87-r29 DXAS-TV ch. 4 Davao City, Davao del Sur
95-133 DXZT-TV ch. 3 General Santos City, South Cotabato
96-220 DXAI-TV ch. 5 Cotabato City, Maguindanao

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-008
DECISION

CASE NO. CALL-SIGN FREQUENCY LOCATION

97-290 DXAJ-TV ch. 11 Butuan City, Agusan del Norte
DTTB Statioas for Implementation
2007-r42 PA ct]^.2l Aparri, Cagayan
2008-094 PA ch. 34 Bayombong, Nueva Ytzcaya
97-248 PA ch.9 Hondagua, Quezon
2007-r40 PA-TV C}].2I Brooke's Point. Palawan
97-284 PA-TV c}r.7 Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
97-287 PA-TV ch.2 Toledo City, Cebu
97-204 PA- TV ch. 37 Cebu City, Cebu
94-r90 DXAE-TV ch.25 Zamboanga City, Zarnboanga del Sur
2008-089 PA-TV ch. 21 Kidapawan, Cotabato
94-t92 DXAF-TV c}].24 General Santos City, South Cotabato

2. ALL PROVISIONAL AUTHORITIES/CERTIFICATES OF

PUBLIC CONVENIENCE granted to ABS-CBN CORPORATION
pursuant to RA 7966 are hereby REVOKED/CANCELLED. In
addition, Respondent's pending applications/petitions before
the Commission are herebv DISMISSED/DENIED.

2020

Quezon City, Phili :/

A. CORDOBA
Commissioner

J$--
EDGARDO V. CABARIOS
P,ro^
DELILNI F. DELES
Deputy Commissioner Deputy Commissio ner

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ADM. CASE NO. 2020-ooa
DECISION

Copy fumished: *F
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POBI,ADOR BAUTISTA & REYES
Counsel for Respondent ABS- CBN CORPORATION N b^-r+lLA "l*)'
5th
)LII Floor, SEDCCO Ir e$r^-.--D
Building
Fr(JUr, r:svvvv r. t _!:
ii-o i"a. corner Legaspi Stre-etsJ.e-gaspi Village, Makati
City lD e4,+ X,
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Tel. No. 8893-7623/Fax No' 8893-7622

Email Address : central@pbrlaw'com'ph

Attn. ATTY. MARIO LV?'A BAUTISTA

ATTY. NICK EMMAIIUEL C. VILLALVZ

Telecommunlcations Commission
Offlce of the Prrstdent
COMMISSONSECREfiAruAT

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