The family of Cebu Provincial Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez has sought the court’s intervention to stop the turnover of El Nuevo Bantay Radyo to a Cebu-based cooperative.
In a complaint filed before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court, Sanchez said her family, who managed the radio station for the past 12 years, earlier had a “verbal” agreement with the Cagayan de Oro-based Sarraga Integration and Management (SIAM) Broadcasting Corp. for the extension of its contract to take charge of Bantay Radyo.
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As agreed upon by the parties, she said her family deposited an amount of P700,000 to SIAM’s account as initial payment for the renewal of the contract with the broadcast company.
If SIAM cancels its contract with the Sanchezes, the board member said their family will suffer enormous damage since they already entered into certain agreements with third parties for the purchase of radio block time and other similar arrangements.
She also feared that several current employees of El Nuevo Bantay Radyo will be displaced due to the “sudden and ill-advised” decision of SIAM not to renew its contract with Pafi Foundation.
“The plaintiff (Pafi Foundation) believed that it is entitled to have a renewal of the subject management agreement because all the terms and conditions are already agreed upon, and what is left to be done is the formal signing of the new Management Contract,” said Sanchez’ lawyer Magnificus Cañete.
The plaintiffs are also seeking payment of at least P700,000 from SIAM for moral damages and litigation expenses.
Named defendant in the case was SIAM represented by its president Francisco Sarraga.