WITH seven days to go to the end of its management contract, the fate of El Nuevo Bantay Radyo in Cebu remains in the hands of the court.
The franchise holder said it has the right to terminate its agreement with PAFI Foundation headed by Provincial Board Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez for violation of contract terms.
In a pleading, Sarraga Integration and Management (SIAM) Broadcasting Corp. said PAFI “failed to pay or remit” a guaranteed income for a minimum of eight months as earlier agreed.
The Cebu CFI Community Cooperative Inc. is set to take over the management of Bantay Radyo after the contract expires on July 31.
A hearing yesterday was scheduled to adjudicate SIAM’s motion. It was reset to Monday after the cooperative’s lawyer and board member Lito Astillero asked for time to file a motion to dismiss.
PAFI earlier filed a petition for injunction and specific performance against SIAM to press the owner to honor an earlier verbal agreement to renew the management contract, which the late Vice
Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr. and his family had managed since 2002. His daughter, Gigi, is COO of the network and now an elected provincial official of Cebu’s 3rd district.
Judge Alexander Acosta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 granted the request to reset a hearing to Monday.
SIAM, through its lawyer Michael Florentino Dumlao III, filed a motion to dismiss the civil suit.
In court yesterday, PAFI Foundation lawyers Edgar Gica and Magnificus Cañete stressed the need for the court to step in.
“July 31 is seven days to go from today. We reiterate the need for the issuance of a temporary restraining order, ” Gica said.
In her complaint, Sanchez said PAFI Foundation which managed the radio network for 12 years, had a “verbal” agreement with SIAM for the extension of its management contract of Bantay
Radyo and that she deposited an agreed amount of P700,000 in SIAM’s bank account as initial payment. If SIAM doesn’t renew its contract, said Sanchez, her family would suffer great damage since they already sealed prior agreements with third parties for the purchase of radio block time and other similar arrangements.
She said she also feared the current employees would lose their jobs due to the “sudden and ill-advised” decision of SIAM.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
