AFTER the Sugboanon Channel merged with the Public Information Office (PIO), the ownership of several audio-visual (AV) equipment of the Cebu City Government’s former broadcast arm is in limbo due to various camps claiming ownership.
Several high-end AV equipment previously used during the broadcast of the various programs of the Sugboanon Channel were temporarily secured at its studio located in the satellite office across the City Hall for inventory purposes, according to PIO chief Ramil Ayuman.
The Department of General Services (DGS), the City Hall’s property custodian, initiated the temporary padlocking of the studio.
Ayuman told SunStar on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, that this measure was taken to clarify the ownership of the equipment used to broadcast City Government programs and activities.
Equipment
The equipment in question includes two high-performance laptops, specifically Aspire 7 and Legion 5 Pro models; AVMatrix VS061U Mini Multi-format video switcher; Rode Wireless Go II Dual Channel microphone system; Sony PXW-Z90V video camera; and a Zoom H6 Handy audio recorder.
Other items at the Sugboanon Channel studio include a Yamaha MGP 24x24 audio mixer, a desktop personal computer with high-performance specifications for studio and editing work and a portable hard drive.
Based on current online retailer market estimates, the total value of the listed equipment is between P600,000 and higher.
Letters
The City Government received a letter dated Feb. 4 and addressed to Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia from a private supplier named BMH System Solution Inc., requesting the retrieval of these equipment.
According to BMH, these items were lent to Sugboanon Channel in December 2023 with the expectation of a future purchase or recall.
The City Government received a second letter from dismissed mayor Michael Rama’s son, lawyer Mikel Rama, demanding the return of several equipment that were “lent out” to the Sugboanon Channel for broadcast purposes in August 2023.
The letter dated Feb. 10 was addressed to Cerwin Eviota, former executive director of the Sugboanon Channel, who is now with the marketing team for South Road Properties.
After the merger, the website domain of the Cebu City News and Information was also shut down. Stories on the news site were mostly published during the time when Rama was still the mayor.
Ayuman further said the domain formerly used by the Sugboanon Channel was believed to be owned by Eviota.
He said the City Government could continue paying for the website domain and management, but it was recently deactivated.
In a statement, Eviota said the DGS procured most of the equipment.
“There are equipment that the former mayor (Rama) sourced and another set lent for demo by a proponent supplier,” he said.
Ayuman said these concerns and past issues with the Facebook page Cebu Updates show that the City Government’s digital assets were mismanaged or not transferred properly. He added that Councilor Edgardo “Jaypee” Labella will propose an ordinance to protect the City’s digital assets that include its website and social media pages.
To recall, Cebu Updates is a Facebook page that originated as the PIO page for Cebu City.
Legal consultation
The DGS has also consulted the City Legal Office (CLO) to obtain a legal opinion and guidance on how to proceed with the ownership issue.
Ayuman said that PIO personnel, currently stationed on the first floor of City Hall’s legislative building, were intended to relocate to the Sugboanon Channel studio, but this was prevented by the studio being temporarily locked.
The PIO chief reiterated that until the CLO issues a legal opinion, the ownership of the equipment remains uncertain.
The Sugboanon Channel was established on Aug. 14, 2023, as an information platform independent of the PIO.
It was established during the administration of Rama, who was dismissed from service by the Ombudsman over a nepotism case last September
The channel’s goals included providing City Hall offices a platform to report their activities and welcoming private individuals as guests.
However, Garcia merged it with the PIO, citing redundancy in workload and personnel.
On Feb. 9, the Sugboanon Channel announced the end of its broadcasts via its Facebook page. / EHP