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Sunday, December 19, 2004
Nalzaro: Tommy's threat
By Bobby Nalzaro
After threatening not to renew the business permit of GMA 7 Cebu, Mayor Tomas Osmeña, with his usual arrogance, said he will ban the giant television network from covering the annual Sinulog grand parade inside the Cebu City Sports Center, where the final presentation of contingents will be performed.
The mayor justified his decision to ban GMA 7 from covering the colorful street dancing, saying the network refused to accommodate City Hall’s proposal to buy airtime and air its ads even if they are willing to pay. He also threatened to revoke the franchise of the network. Wow! Maybe the mayor thinks that he is the President of this republic.
I would like to inform the mayor that it is the policy of the station not to accept any political blocktime. We can only accept commercial and religious blocktime, while the news and commentary programs are produced by the station.
Congress issued the franchise obtained by the network allowing it to operate radio and television stations nationwide. And, I understand, it is only Congress that can revoke that franchise and not the mayor of a local government unit.
The mayor also accused this writer of blocking City Hall’s proposal to buy airtime with any Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) member station. This is an old issue. The KBP has declared City Hall as a banned account for refusing to pay its debt of used airtime amounting to a total of P1.7 million, which was incurred by the administration of then mayor Alvin Garcia, with some KBP member stations. This means, City Hall can no longer buy airtime or place an ad with any KBP member station, unless the obligation is settled.
I have said this before and I will say it again. The decision of the KBP to ban City Hall was not solely mine. It was the united stand of the entire KBP. The broadcasters’ organization, as a collegial body, bases its decision on the stand of the majority. Who am I to influence the other members of the organization, which is composed of stations managers and station owners?
Besides, I was not only the one commenting on the issue in public. There were other commentators from other stations who lambasted City Hall. But why single me out? Now, the honorable mayor wants to get back at me by banning my network from covering the Sinulog.
The actuation of the mayor is too personal. But I would like to inform the mayor that I am not picking up a fight with him. The issues I discussed in my radio program and in my column are all of public interest. He may answer them. If he uses his influence and power to ran after me, then so be it. But he should not include my co-workers at GMA. This is too much, Mr. Mayor.
I would like to remind the mayor and the officials of the Sinulog Foundation that the annual festivities is a not an exclusive event for City Hall. While the City Government extends huge financial help to the foundation, it uses taxpayers’ money not the mayor’s personal funds. The foundation is an independent body so the officials running it should not succumb to the whims and caprices of this arrogant mayor.
(e-mail: bobby@sunstar.com.ph/text 09193181404)
(December 19, 2004 issue)
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