Cauayan officials ordered to reopen radio outfit

CAUAYAN City, Isabela — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has ordered the opening of a radio station here which local officials shut down last Feb. 17 for failing to comply with requirements for a mayor’s permit.

The city government, however, has defied the Comelec directive, insisting that Bombo Radyo dzNC cannot operate without the required mayor’s permit.

In a two-page en banc order, Comelec chairman Benjamin Abalos Jr. and the six other commissioners ordered the city government to maintain the status quo before the radio station was closed last Feb. 17.

The poll body issued the directive after the city government failed to reply to the petition of Bombo Radyo dzNC asking the commission to issue a writ of preliminary injunction and/or status quo ante order pursuant to Section 6.4 of Republic Act No. 9006 prohibiting the closure of radio stations during the election period.

City legal officer Racma Fernandez, however, said the city government did not receive a formal notice from the Comelec requiring it to answer the petition of Bombo Radyo dzNC.

The poll body’s order required the parties to appear at the Comelec central office in Intramuros, Manila on March 30.

At 8:55 a.m. last Wednesday, Bombo Radyo dzNC returned on air with its regular programming with station manager Charmy Sabigan anchoring the commentary program Bombo Bigtime.

Upon learning about it, Mayor Caesar Dy immediately issued a closure order, reiterating that the radio station cannot operate for having no mayor’s permit.

At 2:39 p.m. that day, city administrator Felicisimo Meer and Fernandez, escorted by seven policemen led by Inspector Abet de Joya, went to the radio station and ordered Sabigan to stop their broadcast.