SC junks NOW's bid as new telco player

The Supreme Court (SC) has shut down the bid of NOW Telecom Co. Inc. to become the third major player in the country's telecommunications industry.

- DAPHNE GALVEZ

In a 15-page ruling promulgated on Jan.31, the SC's First Division denied NOW Telecom's petition that questioned the validity of the circular issued by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), whichs imposed qualifications and restrictions on the entry of a new major player (NMP) in the telco industry.

With this, NOW's bid to become NMP has been shut down, as Mindanao Islamic Telephone Co. Inc. has been selected as the NMP under the NTC circular, and has been issued a certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN).

In deciding against NOW Telecom, the high court said the petition for injunctive relief has been rendered moot and academic, considering that there was already a chosen NMP and was accordingly issued a CPCN.

"It is an established rule that injunction will not issue to restrain the performance of an act already done, or to prevent events that have already happened," the decision read.