MikeLigalig.com

by PNA

The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 83 has set on May 23 (Wednesday) the hearing on the petition for mandamus filed by businessman Jose de Venecia III against the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and major telecommunication companies over the non-implementation of NTC's memorandum slashing the interconection fees for short messaging systems (SMS) by 20 centavos.

De Venecia said here on Monday that he is asking the RTC under Judge Ralph Lee to issue Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) against continuous charging by telecommunication companies of P0.35 interconnection fees which is detrimental to cellphone users.

The son and namesake of former five-time Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. was invited during the launching and opening Monday of the Brigada Eskwela in Bayambang town.

In his petition filed before the Quezon City RTC, De Venecia last May 17 criticized the inability of the NTC to enforce its own order and protect the Filipino consumers.

He asserted that the suit will also help the agency perform its duty as the public continues to pay the old rates seven months after the memorandum was signed.

Other respondents in the suit are Digital Telecommunications Phils Inc., Globe Telecommunications Inc. and Smart Communications Inc.

De Venecia, who was instrumental in stopping the anomalous broadband deal of NBN-ZTE during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, said that the two telecom giants -- Globe and Smart -- should not employ delaying tactics in cutting the text rates because they can afford to offer the reduced rates as Smart earned P37 billion with Globe earning P10 billion last year.

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