Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 4) – A regional TV station is seeking the inhibition of regulators in the administrative complaint against the network’s supposed franchise violations.

Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), through legal counsel Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico, filed a motion urging National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) officials – Commissioner Ella Lopez and Deputy Commissioners Jon Salvahan and Alvin Blanco – from taking further action in the administrative case and inhibiting themselves on the grounds of unfair bias.

“The three sitting commissioners, with all due respect, should be disqualified from hearing and rendering a judgment in this administrative case as it is also the complainant itself,” SMNI said in a motion filed before the commission Thursday morning.

“The NTC is the judge, the NTC is the complainant, the NTC is the executioner. We cannot expect justice from the NTC,” Suplico said in an interview on Thursday.

Lopez, Salvahan, and Blanco signed the show cause order with a 30-day suspension against SMNI in December.

It followed a House resolution pushing for SMNI’s suspension for supposedly violating terms and conditions of its franchise.

Tolentino said the case could be referred to the Department of Justice.

SMNI also pointed out that it has filed a petition for review before the Court of Appeals challenging the NTC suspension order.

“Judicial courtesy dictates that it stops any action on this case until such time the honorable Court of Appeals has rendered a decision in the petition filed,” SMNI said in its motion.

The NTC held its first hearing on the case Thursday morning. Suplico said it granted the network 10 more days or until Jan. 15 to file its reply.