People light candles outside the gates of the ABS-CBN compound in Metro Manila on Tuesday, May 5, 2020. (JES AZNAR / GETTY IMAGES)

MANILA - Philippine legislators pushed on Wednesday to get the country’s biggest broadcaster back on air, amid widespread shock and dismay over an order by the industry regulator for the station to cease operations after its 25-year franchise expired.

ABS-CBN has been on tenterhooks for several years because of Duterte’s repeated threats to thwart its renewal bid.  Its shares have lost more than half their value during Duterte’s presidency, which began in 2016

Aides to President Rodrigo Duterte sought to distance him from Tuesday’s move against ABS-CBN Corp, insisting his office was as surprised as anyone and the mercurial leader no longer had an axe to grind with the station, despite past grievances.

Celebrities, entertainers and fans expressed sorrow on social media and labour, business, and media groups urged intervention to spare thousands of jobs, protect free speech and guarantee access to vital public information amid the coronavirus epidemic.

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The National Telecommunications Commission’s (NTC) decision has puzzled many lawmakers and commentators, prompting allegations by Duterte’s critics that his allies are exploiting a strict lockdown and trying to intimidate the media using legal and regulatory processes.

“We have done all the requirements for renewal, and we have not violated any laws,” ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak said in a live broadcast minutes before its main television channel went off the air.

The broadcaster has drawn the ire of Duterte for allegedly refusing to air his political advertisements during the 2016 elections. In February, Duterte said he accepts ABS-CBN’s apology and said he would not interfere when Congress deliberates on the franchise, which expired on May 4.

The renewal of the franchise is within the authority of Congress, and in the absence of that license, ABS-CBN’s operation is entirely up to the NTC, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Tuesday. 

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Duterte has attacked several media outlets, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Rappler Holdings Corp, for their reporting on his drug war that has killed thousands. The Southeast Asian nation ranked 136th out of 180 nations this year in Reporters Without Borders' World Press Freedom Index, continuing a decline for the past three years under Duterte.

ABS-CBN had no comment on Wednesday about what its next move would be. Trading of its shares was suspended on Wednesday and its main rival GMA Network Inc surged to a one-year high, closing up 23.7 percent having spiked 50 percent during trading.

ABS-CBN, a 66-year-old entertainment and media conglomerate, employs nearly 7,000 people, operates 21 radio and 38 television stations nationwide and distributes online content.

It shut down most of its radio and TV stations on Tuesday just before 8 pm, leaving only a few channels with separate licenses operating.

In this file photo, anchors and crew work on the set of ABS-CBN's news program in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on Feb. 11, 2020 (EZRA ACAYAN / GETTY IMAGES) 

The NTC had in March indicated that ABS-CBN could remain on air pending its license renewal by the lower house of Congress, which only returned from recess on Monday and has been criticized for dragging its heels on the renewal.

There was no indication why the regulator changed its stance, but the office of the solicitor-general said it had cautioned the NTC against allowing ABS to broadcast without a license. The NTC said on Wednesday it stood by its decision and that ABS-CBN could seek a temporary restraining order from a court.

“We have done all the requirements for renewal, and we have not violated any laws,” ABS-CBN President Carlo Katigbak said in a live broadcast minutes before its main television channel went off the air

Rufus Rodriguez, a pro-Duterte congressman, said it was pointless asking the NTC to change its mind.

“We can’t depend on the NTC anymore. We have to make sure in this one month we are in session, we can give a provisional franchise,” said Rodriguez, who filed a resolution on Wednesday to get ABS-CBN an interim license.

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Senate President Vicente Sotto said that if the lower house failed to do that, his chamber could get the job done.

“Bring it to the Senate, we will approve it!” he said on Twitter.

ABS-CBN has been on tenterhooks for several years because of Duterte’s repeated threats to thwart its renewal bid.  Its shares have lost more than half their value during Duterte’s presidency, which began in 2016.

Duterte’s legal counsel Salvador Panelo said anyone accusing him of involvement was “barking up the wrong tree” because Duterte had forgiven ABS-CBN.

Presidential spokesman Roque said Duterte wanted his supporters in Congress to know that he would not be upset if they backed ABS-CBN’s license renewal.