Alternative news outfit Bulatlat has asked the Quezon City Regional Court to cite the National Telecommunications Commission for contempt for its failure to unblock the media group’s website despite the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction.
The group, in a petition for indirect contempt, claimed that its website continues to be inaccessible to its subscribers using Globe, Converge, PLDT and Smart internet service providers.
“The petitioner humbly submits that the continued blocking of its website for more than 48 hours after respondent NTC has been officially served with the writ of preliminary injunction is an outright and inexcusable act of defying a lawful order of the Honorable Court.”
“Such defiance constitutes indirect contempt of court pursuant to Section 3 (b) of Rule 71 of the Revised Rules of Court..,” Bulatlat said in its petition.
The NTC was stopped by the Quezon City RTC from enforcing its memorandum order blocking public access to the website of Bulatlat.com.
This was after Branch 306 Judge Dolly Rose Bolante-Prado issued a writ of preliminary injunction against NTC Memorandum Order dated 8 June 2022.
The court also required plaintiff Bulatlat to post a bond of P100, 000 that will answer for the damages the defendants would suffer by reason of the injunction in case it was found the progressive media outfit is not entitled to the relief sought.
The resolution of the court stemmed from Bulatlat’s motion for reconsideration to reconsider its ruling denying a plea for the issuance of a temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction enjoining the NTC from implementing its controversial memorandum order.
The P100,000 bond was raised by Bulatlat in contributions via an online campaign to pay for the injunction bond.
The group expressed their heartfelt thanks to the contribution they received to their online campaign to raise funds for their P100,000 cash bond, in relation to the preliminary injunction win against the NTC blocking order.
Bulatlat said that the past weeks proved to be challenging but the overwhelming support given to them was all worth it.
It further said the contribution is also an affirmation of their brand of journalism, one that serves the interests of the marginalized and oppressed sectors, and of their adherence to the highest standards and ethics of journalism.