PLDT trust fund urged to seek DTH franchise

A former head of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has urged the Beneficial Trust Fund of the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) to seek a new congressional franchise for its planned direct-to-home (DTH) satellite television and mobile TV ventures.

House legislative franchises committee vice chairman and Catanduanes Rep. Joseph Santiago urged MediaQuest Holdings Inc., the media entity wholly owned by the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund, to use another subsidiary, possibly Nation Broadcasting Corp. (NBC), to obtain a new satellite and mobile TV franchise from Congress.

“Sadly, the congressional franchise of MediaQuest subsidiary MediaScape Inc. has been irreparably damaged by grave allegations of corruption and self-dealing,” Santiago said.

He pointed out that under the circumstances, with a tainted and defective congressional franchise, MediaScape (formerly GV Broadcasting System Inc.) would find it very difficult, if not impossible to commercially launch its planned satellite and mobile TV ventures.

Santiago, also chairman of the House information and communications technology committee, said he sees the House endorsing shortly the repeal of MediaScape’s legislative franchise.

Agusan del Sur Rep. Rodolfo Plaza earlier filed a bill seeking to repeal MediaScape’s franchise for numerous violations of the conditions of its legislative concession.

According to Plaza, MediaScape unlawfully sold itself and its franchise on two occasions, without obtaining the prior approval of Congress.

Plaza also earlier accused former NTC chief Ponciano “Jacky” Cruz Jr. of “self-dealing” in connection with his anomalous issuance of a “midnight” direct-to-home license to MediaScape, where he turned out to be a stakeholder. — Mary Ann Reyes