Court sustains closure of F-Channel for lack of permit
BACOLOD CITY -- City Legal Officer Atty. Allan Zamora announced yesterday that padlocked cable television channel F-Channel managed by Mr. Franklin Villanueva will remain close unless it acquires a business permit from the city government.
Zamora's announcement came after they received an Omnibus Order from the Court affirming the Closure Order dated June 23, 2008 pending the trial and final determination of the merits/demerits of the case.
The Omnibus Order issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 48 Judge Gorgonio Ybañez stated that "the City Government is hereby ordered to re-open F-Channel allowing its officers and personnel to resume the operation of its business, provided that F-Channel has already secured from the City the necessary Mayor's Permit to engage in business in the City of Bacolod, and subject, however, to the reconnection of the cable connection to plaintiff's business establishment which particular matter is entirely between the cable provider and the plaintiff.”
Zamora cited that F-Channel has no Mayor's Permit because its application for renewal was not given due course due to the failure to pay the required fee, despite the time and opportunity afforded by the city government.
Earlier, Atty. Zamora said that the city had already acted on the business application of Mr. Villanueva he failed to pay the assessed amount for such renewal.
It can be recalled that the city government closed F-Channel last year after its application for mayor's permit was not given due course.