PAFI: Declare SIAM, CFI in default

CEBU, Philippines - The PAFI Foundation has asked the court to declare Sarraga Integrated and Management Corporation and the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative in default after they allegedly failed to file an answer to the amended petition for injunction the former has filed to protect its management contract over Bantay Radyo.

PAFI president and Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero, through lawyer Edgar Gica, said that SIAM and CFI did not file an answer or responsive pleadings within the period set by the rules.

“… the plaintiff, through counsel, and to this Honorable Court most respectfully moved to declare the defendants in default for their failure to file an answer or responsive pleadings to the Amended Complaint dated July 20, 2015, despite receipt of the summons and copy of said initiatory pleadings within the period set by the rules,” the motion read.

Zaballero earlier filed an amended complaint to include CFI as one of the defendants in the civil case for injunction that she filed against SIAM.

Zaballero, whose company has a management contract with SIAM to operate the three Bantay Radyo stations, alleged that before the expiration of the contract of management on July 31, 2015, her company negotiated with SIAM as early as December 2014 for its renewal.

Zaballero said they have agreed to renew the contract prompting PAFI to deposit on April 10, 2015 the amount of P700,000 as initial payment.

PAFI likewise entered into an agreement for the purchase of radio block time and other similar arrangements to provide income to PAFI.

However, Zaballero said that she was shocked to receive a letter from SIAM that it is no longer renewing its contract with PAFI and will instead give the management contract to CFI because the latter has a better offer.

Zaballero said she tried to contact the representatives of SIAM to renew its contract and sent a letter but she did not receive an answer prompting her to seek redress in court.

She said she included the CFI after she learned that the cooperative had already signed a contract with SIAM for the operation and management of DyDD in Cebu City, DyHH in Bogo City, and DyZZ in Bacolod City. —  (FREEMAN)