‘No politics in closure of radio station’

CAUAYAN CITY, Isabela — The politically influential Dy family has denied that politics had something to do with the Feb. 17 closure of the Bombo Radyo station here, which had been critical of members of the clan.

"Our family upholds much the spirit of press freedom. We will never allow ourselves to be an instrument in trampling it," said third district Rep. Faustino Dy III, younger brother of Cauayan City Mayor Caezar Dy.

The city government ordered the closure of dzNC Bombo Radyo AM station, including its FM twin, for operating allegedly without a mayor’s permit and for its non-payment of business taxes as mandated by City Ordinance No. 92-004.

Mayor Dy said the city government merely complied with the city ordinance in closing the radio station.

Earlier, city administrator Felicisimo Meer said the radio station was not issued the necessary permits because the lot in Barangay Minante Dos on where it stands is classified as agricultural land, a violation of a city ordinance requiring commercial establishments to be constructed in a commercial area.

Last Thursday, avid listeners of the station, backed by several members of the provincial chapter of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), marched to City Hall to protest the closure order but were blocked by policemen.

Bayan leaders claimed the closure order was meant to silence Bombo Radyo from criticizing the Dy clan, led by Gov. Faustino Dy Jr., elder brother of Rep. Dy; Mayor Caezar Dy and Mayor Napoleon Dy of Alicia town.

Eight members of the Dy family, led by the governor, are running in the May 10 polls.