The National Telecommunications Commission unblock the website of media outfit Bulatlat after a petition was filed for the purpose.
The move to unblock its website was hailed by the alternative website a day after a petition was filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court seeking to cite in contempt the NTC for sitting on the writ of preliminary injunction.
The NTC was stopped by Quezon City RTC from enforcing its memorandum order blocking public access to the website of Bulatlat.com.
Quezon City RTC Branch 306 Judge Dolly Rose Bolante-Prado issued a writ of preliminary injunction against NTC memorandum order dated 8 June 2022.
The injunction paved the way for the lifting of the ban by the NTC.
“Bulatlat welcomes the apparent unblocking of our website a day after we filed contempt charges against the National Telecommunications Commission.”
“This is an initial victory for press freedom and the people’s right to access credible sources of information. The unblocking is an affirmation that in fighting back, we can regain our hard won rights,”
Bulatlat said.
Bulatlat.com, in a petition for indirect contempt,recently 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.