Media groups condemn closure of TV station in Bacolod

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines - Two respected media groups in Negros and Bacolod condemned on Wednesday the administration of Mayor Evelio Leonardia for padlocking the F-Channel 13 cable television station at TU Square Building Tuesday morning. Bacolod City Legal Officer Allan Zamora explained the action of the City Government, but this did not stop the media groups from expressing their dismay over the matter. In a joint statement Wednesday, the Negros Media Council for Press Freedom (NMCPF) and Negros Press Club said "The closure was done in the guise of the operator, not having paid his taxes and thus not having any permit to operate the cable TV channel." The media groups also said that the manner by which the chief executive of the city treated freedom of speech must not be tolerated by the Negros press community. NMCPF and NPC urged media practitioners and journalists in Bacolod to condemn the so-called Gestapo (style tactics) of the Leonardia administration. – Sun.Star Bocolod For more details, please follow link.