(Eagle News) — The Court of Appeals (CA) has directed the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to comment on a petition earlier filed by a former telecommunications firm which sought to stop the bidding and awarding of the third communications player in the country.
The CA’s Special 12th Division’s order, dated Nov. 16, 2018, was signed by Justice Ricardo Rosario and concurred in by Justices Eduardo Peralta and Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla.
The appellate court did not issue the temporary restraining order sought by NOW Telecom which had earlier withdrawn from the Nov. 7 bidding process for the selection of the third telecommunications player.
The Mislatel consortium was the lone telecom bidder which passed bidding process, with China Telecom having a 40-percent stake, Udenna Corp. with a 35 percent stake, while its subsidiary, Chelsea Logistics, would have 25 percent.
“Without necessarily giving due course to the instant petition for certiorari, the National Telecommunications Commission is directed to file its comment/opposition on the petition and on petitioner’s prayer for injunctive relief, within 10 days from notice,” the CA’s two-page resolution read.
It said that the petitioner may file a reply to the NTC’s comment/opposition within five days from its receipt of the comment.
Petitioner NOW elevated their petition to the Court of Appeals after a Manila regional trial court junked its earlier petition for preliminary injunction.
The Mislatel consortium was declared as the third telecommunications player on Nov. 19, after passing and completing the requirements set by the NTC.
