Siam Broadcast Corp., CFI Cooperative face contempt charges

PROVINCIAL Board (PB) Member Grecilda “Gigi” Sanchez-Zaballero wants officers of Sarraga Integrated and Management (Siam) Broadcast Corp. and the Cebu CFI Community Cooperative cited in contempt for disregarding a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO).

Zaballero, through her lawyer Edgar Gica, filed the petition for contempt of court and damages against Siam, represented by its president Francisco Sarraga; CFI Cooperative; Engr. Arlene Gimenez, Siam head technician; and four unidentified persons.

Zaballero said the respondents illegally pulled out the equipment called “exciters” from the transmitter sites of three Bantay Radyo stations last Aug. 1 despite the court-issued TRO, thus affecting their advertisers and blocktimers.

The respondents’ acts constituted “unlawful interference with the proceedings of a court, or an improper conduct tending to degrade the administration of justice,” said Zaballero in the petition.

Last July 30, Regional Trial Court Judge Alexander Acosta issued the TRO, preventing CFI Cooperative from taking over El Nuevo Bantay Radyo. Cagayan de Oro-based Siam Broadcast Corp., which operates Bantay Radyo Network, did not renew Zaballero’s broadcast contract. The judge also ordered Zaballero to post a bond of P1 million.

Zaballero’s broadcast contract with the station ended on July 31. Bantay Radyo network is composed of dyDD in Metro Cebu, dyHH in Bogo City and dyZZ in Guihulngan City, Negros Oriental. 

Zaballero filed the civil case for specific performance, damages, injunction with prayer for issuance of preliminary injunction in a bid to retain the management of Bantay Radyo. 

Damages sought

The case was filed after Siam signed a contract with CFI Cooperative to manage El Nuevo Bantay Radyo, starting Aug. 1. 

Zaballero said the transfer of operation and management of Bantay Radyo would cause “enormous financial damage” and could spawn damage lawsuits from advertisers and blocktime patrons against them. The board member also filed an amended complaint, implicating CFI Cooperative in the suit. 

Apart from a TRO, Zaballero also asked the court to order SIAM to pay her P500,000 in moral damages; P100,000 in attorney’s fees; and P100,000 in litigation expenses. 

CFI Cooperative’s Board of Directors is chaired by retired judge Esperanza Garcia, mother of former governor now Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia (Cebu, 3rd district). 

The Sanchezes and Garcias are political rivals. 

But Michael Florentino Dumlao III, lawyer of Siam, said the complaint should be dismissed since Zaballero lacks cause of action in filing the case. 

“The contract between the parties clearly has been violated by plaintiff, when (Lacto) Pafi failed to pay or remit in favor of Siam, the agreed guaranteed income for a minimum of eight months,” read Siam’s motion to dismiss. 

In the petition, Zaballero said the respondents disobeyed the court-issued TRO despite the fact that she posted the P1-million cash bond. She said Siam and Jiminez should be jailed until they return the exciters to the network. 

She also asked Judge Acosta to order the respondents to pay her P1 million as payment for the “injury” they caused her when they disregarded the TRO.

Sought for comment, Ian Sarraga, of SIAM Broadcast Corp., said the network’s lawyer will answer the petition. 

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph