Sonny reopens Toledo radio station

CEBU, Philippines - Toledo City Mayor John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña has reopened the local radio station that was ordered closed by his predecessor, former mayor Aurelio Espinosa.

Immediately when he assumed office yesterday, Osmeña lifted the cease and desist order issued by Espinosa last December 21 against Bay Radio, an FM station in Toledo City.

Osmeña took his oath before Regional Trial Court Judge Albei Carmelo Pescadero at the Toledo City Palace of Justice. From there, Osmeña proceeded to the nearby radio station owned by Makati City-based Ernesto Yabut.

Osmeña said that he wants to promote transparency in his governance and that the radio station was a “political casualty”. He earlier accused Epinosa of imposing Martial Law when he ordered the closure of the radio station.

He said that Espinosa has no power to order the closure but only the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC).

Veteran broadcaster Fernando “Nanding” Celestial was having radio program at the said station since May last year and exposed alleged anomalies of Espinosa.

Yesterday, Osmeña also administered the oath of Vice Mayor Antonio Yapha Jr. and his nine councilors mostly belonging to One Cebu Party.

Osmeña, Yapha and only three councilors are with the Liberal Party.

Detained councilor Ricardo Rafols of LP took his oath in Manila in a private medical facility according to his sister, Riza. Rafols has been detained at the National Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City since August last year after the Sandiganbayan sentenced him to life imprisonment for a malversation case concerning unreturned city-owned items and properties in 2001 when he was vice mayor.  JPM   (FREEMAN)