Station manager claims political motives in radio station's closure

CLOSED. Supporters of Zagitsit News FM in Legazpi City gather outside the radio station on Monday night (Nov. 8, 2021) to show support after it was ordered closed by the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). The NTC order was in compliance with a directive by the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises. (Photo from Zagitsit News FM's Facebook page)

LEGAZPI CITY – The station manager of Zagitsit News FM here on Tuesday decried the closure order on the media network, claiming it was a political move.

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) in Bicol served on Monday a cease-and-desist order (CDO) on the station's operation allegedly due to an expired temporary permit, absence of a transmitter link license, and violation of the terms and conditions of its provisional authority.

The NTC order followed a directive from the House of Representatives Committee on Legislative Franchises which also required the commission to explain why it has been allowing Zagitsit News FM -- which business permit is under the name of Hermogenes Alegre Jr. -- to use one of the frequencies assigned by the Hypersonic Broadcasting Center Inc., (HBC), the franchise permit holder.

The closure order took effect on Monday and the station management was given until November 19 this year to file a motion for reconsideration.

"Politics was behind the closure on Monday of the Zagitsit News FM station here by the NTC for operating with an expired temporary permit," Alegre said in an interview.

He said he was surprised by the CDO, noting that the NTC, for the past six years, has been regularly inspecting the station's operations to ensure its compliance with government policies.

“We were served a notice to explain and submit a motion for reconsideration until November 19 but to my surprise, the CDO was served on Monday,” he said.

“We are committed to abide by the law and find legal remedies to address the issue. What is disturbing was politics are all behind this,” claimed Alegre, who is a veteran broadcast journalist and reporter of the Manila Broadcasting Corporation (MBC-DZRH) station.

With the closure order, he said twenty-five personnel of the radio station would be included in the statistics of the unemployed, "while a large number of beneficiaries of their public affairs program would be deprived of assistance".

Ako Bicol Party-list Representative Alfredo Garbin, a member of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, in a phone interview, said it was the job of the committee to grant or deny franchises sought by media networks “so it is inherent to the committee to check and ask the NTC whether those given franchises are complying with the requirements".

He said Zagitsit was found to have continuously failed to comply with government policies as it had been operating without a franchise for six years.

Garbin, a lawyer, said the franchise given to HBC Inc., was an exclusive right that could not be sold, nor rented, and “the laws say it does not righten into a right – to operate without a franchise is illegal and therefore an illegal act.”

Alegre, who is a close ally of incumbent Legazpi City Mayor Noel Rosal, is running for the provincial board for the second district of Albay.

Garbin is running for the city mayoral post, challenging Geraldine Rosal, the wife of the incumbent mayor.

Noel Rosal, who is on his last term as mayor, filed his candidacy for governor, challenging re-electionist Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara who is on his last term as governor.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn Atos-Arango, 34, a mother and resident of this city, in an interview on Tuesday said, she felt dismayed by the closure of Zagitsit News FM.

"I'm sad, aside from the updated news and information, the station really helps a lot especially those who need assistance," she said.

Myra Cruz of Pilar, Sorsogon, in a text message, said she almost cried after hearing that it was already the last program of Zagitsit that went on air last Monday.

"I got a job because of Zagitsit, they really help ever since before. I hope it will return soon," she added. (PNA)