In this file photo, anchors and crew work on the set of ABS-CBN's news program in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines on Feb. 11 (EZRA ACAYAN / GETTY IMAGES) 

The Philippines’ largest media company has asked the country’s top court to halt a government order shutting its television and radio stations.

Often a target of President Rodrigo Duterte’s criticism, the broadcaster has said it followed the law

ABS-CBN Corp also asked the Supreme Court to set aside the telecommunications commission’s May 5 closure order which the network said was issued without due process and violates freedom of speech, its news website said on Twitter.

ALSO READ:Philippine lawmakers vow to get broadcast giant ABS-CBN back on air

Often a target of President Rodrigo Duterte’s criticism, the broadcaster has said it followed the law. The president will remain neutral on the issue and will let Congress decide on ABS-CBN’s permit, his spokesman Harry Roque said.

The shutdown order, issued a day after the broadcaster’s franchise expired, covered more than 20 radio stations and over 50 TV stations with some 11,000 employees.

READ MORE: Philippine seeks cancellation of top broadcaster's franchise

Trading in ABS-CBN’s shares has been halted since Wednesday.

READ MORE: Philippines frees scribe on bail after outcry over press freedom