ROXAS City – A popular radio station here went off air. Its antenna was dismantled over the weekend by the provincial government of Capiz.
It was earlier reported that the antenna of Baskog Radyo had an issue – it supposedly posed a “threat to public safety” as assessed by the provincial engineer.
But in its Faceboook page, the management of Baskog Radyo stated the provincial government won’t allow it to use the 102.5 MHz transmission frequency and that this was a threat to press freedom.
“Ini ang klaro nga intimidasyon, pagpahipos kag pagpugong sa mga miyembro sang media nga tumanon ang amon nga sagrado nga katungdanan nga magbalita, mag-edukar kag magtabang sa lubos nga nagakinahanglan,” it stated.
Baskog Radyo further emphasized that there was no case filed in court against it, and neither was a court order issued to dismantle the radio station’s antenna.
“Sa malawig nga pagdiskusyon yanda nga hapon, nahisugtan nga indi pagdayunon ang ilegal nga pag-demolish sang Baskog Radyo apang indi naman pagpasugtan nga makabalik ang pag-broadcast sang Baskog Radyo sa frequency sini. Kabaylo sini, pahanugutan naman nga ibalik ang linya sang kuryente,” it revealed.
Baskog Radyo, through its station manager Jay Murguia Lavapiez, filed in court a petition against the provincial government of Capiz for a preliminary mandatory and prohibitory injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order, and a petition for permanent mandatory and prohibitory injunction.
Provincial Administrator Edwin Monares welcomed the move.
“The merits of the issue will be heard by a court with the competency to interpret and render judgment as to the grounds of the order to dismantle the antenna or the high frequency transmission tower of Baskog Radyo,” said Monares.
He added: “The rationality and legality of the act done by the provincial government will be free from misrepresentations and twisting of facts by Radyo Baskog anchors. The issue will be given a day in the right forum, not in the bar of public opinion that is influenced by the anchors of Radyo Baskog.”/PN