Pagiging “moot and academic” ang naging basehan ng Supreme Court (SC) para ibasura ang hirit ng ABS-CBN na temporary restraining order (TRO) laban sa cease and desist order (CDO) ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) na nagpatigil noon sa operasyon ng giant TV network noong Mayo 5.
Ito ang kinumpirma ni SC Spokesman Atty. Brian Keith Hosaka matapos ang isinagawang en banc session kanina.
Ang pagbasura sa TRO ng ABS-CBN ay dahil na rin sa desisyon ng Kongreso na hindi na bigyan ng franchise extension o prangkisa ang media outfit.
Sa isinagawang virtual en banc session, 14 daw sa mga mahistrado ang nagdesisyon para ibasura ang hirit ng TRO.
Tanging si Associate Justice Priscilla Baltazar-Padilla ang hindi nakibahagi sa botohan dahil naka-leave ito sa trabaho.
Nagsilbing member-in-charge sa kaso si Senior Associate Justice Estela Perlas-Bernabe.
“I would like to announce that The Supreme Court in today’s En Banc session, resolved to dismiss the Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Application for TRO and Injunction filed by ABS-CBN Corporation against the National Telecommunications Commission (ABS-CBN Corporation vs. NTC, GR No. 252119). According to the Court, in light of the supervening denial of the pending House Bills for the renewal of ABS-CBN Corporation’s legislative franchise on July 10, 2020, the Court finds it appropriate to dismiss the case on the ground of mootness. Because of this supervening event, there is no actual substantial relief which ABS-CBN Corporation would be entitled to regardless of the Court’s disposition of the merits of the Petition. The Justices were unanimous in their decision to dismiss the petition, except for Justice Priscilla J. Baltazar-Padilla who took no part as she was on leave. Senior Associate Justice Estela M. Perlas-Bernabe was the Member-in-Charge of the case. Thank you,” ani Hosaka.
