TRO takes effect 3 days after Bantay went off air

A temporary restraining order (TRO) suspending the take over of El Nuevo Bantay Radyo by another entity took effect yesterday after PAFI Foundation posted the required P1-million bond.

The trial court received the bond yesterday morning With it, the stoppage order against Sarraga Integration and Management (SIAM) Broadcasting Corp. and Cebu CFI Community Cooperative Inc.  takes effect.

“We are doing everything we can to protect what is due us,” said Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, PAFI president, in an interview with Cebu Daily News.

Last July 30, Judge Alexander Acosta of the Regional Trial Court Branch 9 issued a 20-day TRO which prohibits SIAM from turning over the management of the three AM stations under El Nuevo Bantay Radyo to Cebu CFI.

The court, however, required PAFI to post a P1 million bond to answer for any damage that may arise if it’s shown later that the foundation was not entitled to the TRO.

A day after the order was issued,  Bantay Radyo  transmission sites were disabled by the confiscation of  of a box-shaped gadget in each site that controlled  the the radio frequencies.

Representatives of SIAM said the removal was made on the ordrers of the company president  Francisco Sarraga.

A Bantay Radyo reporter in Cebu who refused to be named said he is worried about losing his job.

“Sunod, wa na unya mi ikapakaon sa among pamilya. Mura og nahulog nga nahostage mi og away tali sa duha ka grupo,” said the reporter, who has been working for Bantay Radyo for over a decade already. (We fear we can no longer feed our family.  We are caught in between the war of two groups.)

The reporter said he and his colleagues are anxiously waiting for the resolution of the dispute, amidst assurances from PB Member Sanchez that they will still receive their salaries.

Bantay Radyo has around 20 employees, including technicians, writers, reporters, announcers, and editors.

The radio reporter said  he has started looking for other jobs just in case he loses his present one.

“I have three kids still studying in college, high school and elementary and they don’t eat dried fish and sardines,” he said.

Meanwhile, PB Member Sanchez said she has issued a memorandum asking technicians to go on a week-long forced leave with pay.

According to Sanchez, this will allow technicians to spend time with their families.

Since the transmission sites are down, she said, it  was  only logical to let the technicians go home for a while.

“Anyway, we have security guards watching over the sites already,” she said.

The board member said administrative operations will continue in Bantay Radyo’s office along Escario Street, just across the  Capitol.

“For now, we will try as much as possible to get what is due us. When I say what is due us, it is not just for me or the management, but also for the employees,” said Sanchez.