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Calida Moves To Gag ABS-CBN On Quo Warranto Case
Calida Moves To Gag ABS-CBN On Quo Warranto Case
“We want a gag order to be issued in this case so that facts can
be decided upon evidence produced in court, and that the
determination of such facts should be uninfluenced by bias,
prejudice, or sympathies," Calida said in a very urgent motion
submitted before the SC late Tuesday morning.
Calida filed the motion as support for the media giant continued
to pour in following his quo warranto petition which, if granted,
would limit the news company's coverage of the story.
"In accordance with due process, the Supreme Court has ordered
ABS-CBN Corporation and ABS-CBN Convergence Inc to file their
respective comments within a non-extendible period of 5 days,"
SC spokesperson Brian Keith Hosaka said in a news conference.
Other news items which Calida said violated sub judice are:
television reports airing the answers of ABS-CBN to the
allegations, "commentaries," as well as articles quoting various
experts in the discussion of the issue.
Hosaka refused to comment on whether ABS-CBN's coverage of
the issue would be affected should the High Court issue the gag
order.
"I cannot answer that; to second guess what will be the effect on
the coverage of this matter. What I can tell you right now is
factual – what motion was filed and what action was taken. As to
possible effect on the coverage by media, I cannot make any
comment on that," Hosaka said.
Senators' reactions
"A motion for a gag order is what it is. Just a motion," Poe said in
a statement on Tuesday.
“They may run the risk of being cited for contempt once they
express their opinions, that might pose a clear and present
danger in the administration of justice, by directly influencing the
members of the Court in rendering their votes to resolve the
pending petition for quo warranto,” Lacson said.
In the House of Representatives, Albay 1st District Representative
Edcel Lagman slammed Calida's move, as he noted that "gag
orders are issued to guarantee fair trials and to enable the
efficient administration of justice, not to curtail the freedom of
expression and of the press or restrict the public’s access to
information."
"If Solicitor General Jose Calida did not gag himself from
advocating and filing a quo warranto petition against ABS-CBN
Corporation, why should he ask the Supreme Court to gag
supporters and oppositors from expressing their views on the
merits or demerits of his petition?" Lagman asked in a statement
on Tuesday.