ANC to remain on air, says it's not covered by NTC order

ANC, also known as the ABS-CBN News Channel, on Tuesday said it would remain on-air even as its parent ABS-CBN Corp. was ordered to by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to halt television and radio operations.

According to ANC, its franchise is not covered by the Cease and Desist Order released by the NTC on Tuesday afternoon.

"ANC will remain on air as NTC's order does not cover cable news channel," it clarified in a post on its official Twitter account.

The statement comes after the NTC backtracked from earlier pronouncements and instead ordered ABS-CBN Corp. to stop operating its various television and radio stations absent a congressional franchise which lapsed on Monday, May 4, 2020.

The NTC order was released days after the Office of the Solicitor General warned NTC commissioners that they could face Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act charges should they issue ABS-CBN Corp. and its affiliate ABS Convergence Inc. a provisional authority (PA) to operate after its franchise lapses on May 4, 2020.

Prior to the warning, the NTC said it would heed orders of both houses of Congress to grant ABS-CBN a PA to allow the company to continue operating while its franchise is being deliberated.

To recall, the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises -- through a letter from House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and panel chair Franz Alvarez dated February 26, 2020 -- formally requested the NTC to grant ABS-CBN a PA to be able to operate beyond May 4. -NB, GMA News