Solon questions sale of RPN-9

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MANILA — Kabataan Partylist Rep. Terry Ridon said the sale of the government-run RPN-9 that recently made a partnership with world-renowned CNN-Time Warner, Inc. is questionable.

He is now calling for a review of the legislative franchise of the Radio Philippines Network, Inc. or RPN-9, a government-sequestered electronic media network.

He said that the majority stake of the broadcasting firm was recently bought by media mogul and former ambassador Antonio Cabangon-Chua.

He also added that the purchase of the majority of the stake by Cabangon-Chua might be a violation of its legislative franchise which is stipulated in the Republic Act No. 9250.

“Section 13 of Republic Act No. 9250, the legislative franchise of RPN-9, expressly prohibits the grantee to lease, transfer, grant the usufruct of, sell or assign the franchise or the rights and privileges acquired thereunder to any person or entity without the approval of Congress,” Ridon pointed out.

He added that a “furthering provision under Section 13 also disallows the transfer of the controlling interest, ‘whether as a whole or in parts and whether simultaneously and contemporaneously’ to any person or entity without the approval of Congress.”

Ridon recently filed House Resolution No. 1644 calling for a congressional inquiry on the purchase.

“This representation is concerned that in this ongoing sale and resale of RPN-9, vested rights of television workers, their security of tenure and retirement benefits, among others, will be compromised,” Ridon explained.

“A review of the RPN-9 franchise is the primary step to determine whether the private operators remain faithful to its public commitment, including its commitment to labor,” Ridon concluded.