Malacanang reiterated on Friday its position that the National Telecommunications Commission could not grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN to operate once its franchise expires by the end of this month.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, the chief presidential legal counsel, made the statement after lawyer Lorenzo Gadon questioned before the Supreme Court the move by the House of Representatives to issue provisional authority to the giant television network.

Panelo said even before Gadon filed a petition before the high court, he  mentioned that provisional authority to be given by NTC could be unconstitutional.

“The NTC cannot give provisional authority if there’s no franchise. If the franchise expires, then there’s nothing to give provisional authority for extension. What are you going to extend? There’s none. As I said in several press briefings ago, if they do that, that might be most likely subject to constitutional question before the Supreme Court,” he explained.

The House leadership earlier signed a letter directing the NTC to grant provisional authority to ABS-CBN to operate effective March 4, 2020, until such time that Congress has made a decision on its franchise application.

Instead of a provisional authority granted by NTC, Panelo proposed that Congress passes a bill giving such provisional authority.

“My suggestion as an ordinary citizen, if they are so minded as to giving provisional authority to ABS-CBN, then why don’t they file (a) bill giving such provisional authority while they will discuss the very merit of the case of giving renewal of 20 or 25 years?” he said.

He noted that there are several bills pending in the House on ABS-CBN renewal of franchise.

“Pass a bill, make it into law granting provisional authority,” Panelo added. Celerina Monte/DMS

Malacanang hailed on Friday the result of the latest survey showing an “excellent” net satisfaction rating in the Duterte administration.

In a statement, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the Palace welcomes the “excellent” +73 rating of the government based on the December 13-16, 2019 survey of the Social Weather Stations. The result of the survey was only released Friday.

“It is noteworthy to mention that the result reveals an ‘excellent’ rating in all geographic areas,” Panelo said.

As in the past survey, he said the latest result was a “clear indication that a great majority of Filipinos believes that this transparent and responsive government, under the stewardship of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, is performing an exceptional job, particularly in the following areas of interest: helping the poor (+64); fighting terrorism (+61); developing a healthy economy (+53); reconciling with Muslim rebels (+51); and protecting the rights of the press (+50).”

Panelo, also the chief presidential legal counsel, assured that the Duterte government would not be complacent in serving the people.

He said the survey result would be an inspiration for those in the government to “take another extra mile  in rendering genuine service for our people and be a source of courage for our dedicated public servants in fighting the challenges that our country is facing today.”

Panelo said that Duterte remains focused on his job, “unmindful of the destructive narratives thrown to him by the incorrigible fault-finders and detractors who have been constantly repudiated by the overwhelming majority of the Filipinos as shown by surveys after surveys since the inception of his presidency.”

For his part, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Martin Andanar said the latest SWS survey result is a “hard blow” not only to the critics of the current government but also to those who doubt the sincerity of the administration’s promise to all Filipinos of collective development. Celerina Monte/DMS