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Bacolod City, PhilippinesWednesday, May 23, 2012
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From the Center
with Rolly Espina
OPINIONS

Questions about
Sky Cable blackout

Rolly Espina

Unquestionably, all of us expect me to write about the last stretch of the Chief Justice Renato Corona impeachment trial. After all, the metropolitan dailies and the television networks have allotted their majority coverage to the trial and the testimony of Chief Justice Corona.

Unfortunately, that is also the reason why I don’t want to discuss my own perception of what has been happening. First, because, like Miss L., I really don’t understand Tagalog so much as I could English and Hilgaynon as well as Cebuano.

In short, there is much to be desired insofar as my interpretation of what has been and discussed in the proceedings leave much to be desired.

Instead, I am focusing this column on a major issue for Bacolodnons. This was because last Sunday, there was a long line of cable subscribers at the Sky Cable. All were complaining about the lack of projection, absence of advanced announcement, the failure by the firm to answer telephone calls about the erratic TV pictures.

I did have one objection which I wrote on the bill for last month’s payment. That the Sky Cable management had not taken pains to deduct the time they had not been operating from the monthly bill. In short, because you have not serviced as claimed, that it is but right you should not charge your subscribes the same amount as earlier computed based on your monthly billing. In short, reduce the payment you are asking based on the amount of time your TV station was not operating or was operating erratically.

As I had said, I was not the only one complaining about it. A hotel operator had early told me that he had to complain to the Sky Cable manager himself that the TV firm had not given advanced warning on its digitalization work, the reason purportedly for the absence of pictures for almost one to two weeks in some cases.

“Imagine, I had to explain to some 200 rooms of guests why their TV sets were not open as expected. And not only for one hour or one day, but for several days,” was how he put it.

Another operator of a Bacolod hotel also commented the same. In short, they were holding the bag to explain to their guests about their TV sets. And they had to do it one by one, room by room.

All because Sky Cable management had not given the establishments and subscribers advanced warning of the work they were doing and the interruptions in the TV projection.

Of course, majority of the hundreds of subscribers of Sky Cable must have also been irate over their ignored interest – an advanced warning that they were not advised properly by the TV distributor.

Perhaps, the Sky Cable administration should apologize to the public for such a major management error – brushing aside the complaint of its subscribers so cavalierly.

***

The New People’s Army owned recently the execution of CAFGU member Paquito Lacsion in Isabela town. The execution was reportedly witnessed by his wife and two children.

That was heartless, killing a person in the presence of his wife and two children is certainly atrocious.

Worse, it is against the law. Who granted them the authority to liquidate a life? Even the Philippine government condemns it. And the church frowns on the practice of the death sentence.

Instead, the NPA justifies the action as based on their perceived atrocities purportedly committed by Lacsion whom they dubbed as a military intelligence agent.

Now, here you have the classic example of how the NPA engages in extra-judicial killing and justifies it by invoking the findings of its so-called People’s court.

***

The provincial government is correct in seeking a temporary restraining order against eh DAR for annotating its purchased property from a private landowner in rural town.

And, in line with due process, the provincial government had charged 18 farmers for trespassing and grave threats before the Provincial Prosecutors Office of the province for allegedly occupying and plowing a portion of the Negros First Ranch in Barangay Santa Rosa. They also reportedly threatened government employees assigned to the place.

Somehow, we hope the Regional Trial Court can rule on the suit filed by the province questioning the Land Registration annotating the titles to the Sta. Rosa property even without the court order cancelling its previous title.

There is something wrong with DAR exercising such extra-legal powers which leaves virtually every private landowner and even government units under the threat of virtual confiscation of their property by the state.

***

But it is not because Nonoy Lopez is a distant relative that I am taking up the cudgels for the Lopez family for the failure by the city government to pay them the remaining P3.5 million for the seven-hectare property.

I recently had a talk with Nonoy and he complained that the family had been given us around by city officials when they claimed the balance of the payment for the property.

The problem can be solved simply by the city’s paying the family what is due them order the contract for its purchase. No need for further meetings.

Just do it, Sir. Simple.*


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