MANILA - ABS-CBN Corp said Monday it submitted to the Supreme Court its written reply to a challenge to its franchise that was lodged by the government's top lawyer.

"ABS-CBN Corporation has filed today its Comment on the Petition for Quo Warranto and Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) or writ of preliminary injunction, in compliance with the Notice of the Supreme Court," it said in a disclosure to the stock exchange.

No other details on ABS-CBN's reply were disclosed to the exchange.

ABS-CBN earlier said the allegations cited by Solicitor General Jose Calida in the quo warranto petition were "without merit."

The country's leading media and entertainment network also answered on Monday a separate petition from Calida asking the high tribunal to issue a gag order stopping ABS-CBN from discussing the case.

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Calida earlier asked the high court to forfeit the license of ABS-CBN accusing it of several violations including breach of a constitutional restriction against foreign ownership of media firms.

ABS-CBN executives faced a Senate investigation on Monday, where they answered Calida's allegations and several other issues.

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