Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 26) — The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Wednesday said it is ready to bring its legal battle against an affiliate of listed NOW Corp. to the Supreme Court (SC).
The Court of Appeals (CA) earlier rejected the telco regulator’s appeal versus News and Entertainment Network Corp.’s (Newsnet) nationwide operations.
READ: CA denies NTC appeal vs. Newsnet permit
“The Court of Appeals decision is not final and the NTC will elevate this case to the SC,” the NTC said in a statement.
It has yet to receive a copy of the CA resolution.
The regulatory body reiterated that an earlier order from the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) mandating the NTC to green light Newsnet’s permit to operate in the pay television market is already “inoperative.”
“The ARTA has already reversed itself so there is no ARTA Decision that can be subject to mandamus,” the NTC stressed.
It also cited the recent statement from the Office of the President (OP), affirming ARTA’s decision as the latter exceeded its power when it ordered the NTC to provide radio frequencies to Newsnet.
“Said order never attained finality because it was null and void from the beginning,” the OP previously said.
READ: Palace rejects Newsnet appeal to launch nationwide operations
In May 2022, the NTC said it already recalled all of Newsnet’s frequencies as the company’s legislative franchise lapsed in August 2021.
