A Church executive attributed the extension of the broadcasting franchise of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) Inc. to divine intervention.
Catholic Media Network (CMN) Corporation President Francis Lucas said he sought the intervention of the Our Lady of Lourdes and Fatima for the “difficult” passage of Republic Act (RA) 11319, which extended CBCP Inc.’s franchise by 25 years.
RA 11319 recently lapsed into law since it was not signed by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
“My prayer to God and I made a special pilgrimage to Mama Mary to Lourdes and Fatima just pass the bill into law,” Lucas said.
“It took us some time, about a year and a half ago, I made a special trip to ask for her help. During the first hearing August 15 [on the law], see that. Immediately our prayers were answered,” he added.
The CBCP director for franchise also attributed it to the support of lawmakers, including Albay Rep. Jose “Joey” Salceda and CBCP President and Davao Archbishop Romulo G. Valles.
“He [Valles] accompanied me in Congress. In the Senate, that was the first hearing, all the rest I was alone up to the Senate. He is too busy also and he is based in CBCP,” Lucas said.
With the renewed franchise, he said he will be pushing to innovate their traditional services to also include digital media.
“We have decided to go beyond radio…this means to do a hybrid strategy of digital and analogue,” Lucas said.
CMN has over 32 radio stations nationwide, including the provinces of Abra, Bicol, Antique, Iloilo, Surigao and Batangas.
Lucas clarified the CMN franchise is separate from another Church-run radio station, Radio Veritas.
Alejano cries political persecution
Former Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano called the sedition and other complaints filed by the PNP against the opposition and other personalities as “political persecution.”
“The accusation of the so-called alias ‘Bikoy’ against opposition figures and civil society personalities is clearly political persecution against critics of this administration,” Alejano said in a statement on Friday.
“Bikoy’s allegation against me is a complete lie and ridiculous. Again and again, I categorically state that I don’t know Bikoy and have never met him. Tinaon niya ang kanyang kwento ng meeting daw niya sa Otso Diretso (8D) on March 4, 2019 where there was a Rappler Senatorial Forum in Leuong Hall in Ateneo attended by the members of 8D. I must emphasize, though, that such activity was well covered by media and witnessed by many people both inside and outside the venue. Certainly, the truth will come out,” he said.