BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines – For violating press freedom, the Supreme Court (SC) has ordered officials of Cauayan City, Isabela led by Mayor Caesar Dy to indemnify a radio network P2 million for shutting down its station in 2004.
The SC’s Second Division, in a 41-page decision dated April 2, said the shutdown of radio station dzNC, owned by Bombo Radyo Philippines, was tantamount to abridging the freedom of speech.
“Wherefore, the petitions (of Bombo Radyo against the city government for violating press freedom) are granted. The assailed decisions of the Court of Appeals and the regional trial court of Cauayan City, branch 24 (favoring the city government’s order) are hereby reversed and set aside,” stated the decision penned by Associate Justice Dante Tinga.
Besides Dy, also ordered to pay the P2 million in damages and attorney’s fees and other related indemnities were city administrator Felicisimo Meer, city legal counsel Racma Fernandez-Garcia and one Bagnos Maximo.
Dy said they would wait for a copy of the SC decision before they could make the necessary moves.
“How can I make any comment when I have not yet seen a copy of the decision?” Dy told The STAR in Filipino.
Bombo Radyo dzNC, a regionwide radio station, was ordered shut down by the city government in 2004 for its alleged failure to obtain a zoning clearance as well as mayor’s and business permits.
Isabela Gov. Grace Padaca, a former hard-hitting journalist of dzNC, said the SC decision was a result of the “capricious acts” of the leaders of Cauayan City.
“(It is) yet another of those many cases in Cauayan when it is the people who suffer the terrible consequences of the capricious acts of their leaders,” said Padaca, who earned the moniker “Bombo Grace” during her Bombo Radyo days.
In its 2004 closure order, the city government also claimed that dzNC failed to secure a land conversion permit from the Department of Agrarian Reform for its site.
Bombo Radyo officials then alleged that the radio station’s closure was politically motivated, as it was perceived as critical of the Dy family.
In 2006, the SC’s Third Division ordered the resumption of operation of the more than 30-year-old radio station, including its sister station dwIT FM after almost two years of being off the air as a result of the closure order.