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News ReleaseMay 10, 2014

News ReleaseMay 11, 2014Reference: Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares, 09178350459

BAYAN MUNA TO TELCOS: SEE YOU IN COURTSays group to intervene in CA and even SC to expedite refund to telcos subscribers 

Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares today said that they would intervene at the Court of Appeals (CA) and even the Supreme Court (SC) when the telecommunications companies (telcos) bring the P6.4-7 billion refund case to court.

 “To expedite the refund to subscribers we will intervene at the CA and the SC. We will see them in court. The

telcos already have so much in profit, and it is but right for them to return their illegal charges to subscribers including interest payments. We know that the telcos’ game plan is to bring this case to court and let it sleep there until it is forgotten, but we will not allow that,” said Rep. Colmenares.

 The senior deputy minority leader made the call as spokespersons for Globe Telecom and Philippine Long

Distance Telephone Company (PLDT)’s Smart Communications and Digital Mobile said on Friday that they would take their case to the Court of Appeals. 

The issue stem from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC Memorandum Circular no. 02-10-2011 ordering the Ayala-led Globe Telecom and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) units, Smart Communications and Digital Mobile Phil. (Sun Cellular) to slash their short message service (SMS) rate to “other networks” to 80 centavos from P1. It can be remembered that Bayan Muna along with Txtpower led the campaign to have the SMS rates reduced when the order was issued in 2011 but the NTC treated the telcos with kid gloves and waited for more than two years to rule with finality.

 The progressive solon also called on the House of Representatives to prioritize the passage of House Bill

1776 to protect consumers from further overcharging by greedy telcos. “We also call on Speaker Sonny Belmonte of the House of Representatives to prioritize  House Bill 1776

which aims to regulate telco rates, require detailed billing of prepaid credits and other service improvements to protect subscribers from another overcharge by greedy telcos” said the senior deputy minority leader.

 “It’s about time we abandon the deregulation policy of government and protect the people’s interest against

rapacious corporations,” he said. House Bill 1776 titled ‘An Act Promoting the Rights of Mobile Phone Subscribers by Regulating Prices,

Requiring Telecommunication Service Companies to provide Detailed Billing of Prepaid Credits, Number Portability, Lowered Pulse Rate and Other Service Improvements” was filed on July 24, 2014  but has not been tackled by Congress.  

“The NTC should also increase its P200 per day fine to P20,000/day as this is peanuts for the telcos.   The fine must be in an amount that would teach these telcos a lesson not to unjustly overcharge subscribers to increase their already super-profits. The telcos made extra profit of at least P8 million per day in the last two years and the P200/day fine is a mere slap in the wrist for them.  The fine must be included in the refund subscribers instead of going to the NTC since it is the public who suffered injury and not the government,” Rep. Colmenares ended. ###

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“Our name is our message. It embodies our core idea and ideals- people first, their

interest and welfare above all.”

For more information, please contact Bayan Muna media officer Carl Ala at 09175110459