New Sugbo TV chief named; Gwen keeps car

The 22-year-old daughter of Provincial Board (PB) Member Arleigh Sitoy will manage Sugbo TV for the next few months.

Natileigh Sitoy, a graduate of De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde, is entertaining applicants for positions in the Capitol’s cable TV channel.

“We won’t feature politicians except for our news program. But we won’t take sides. The purpose of Sugbo TV is to promote Cebu,” she told reporters yesterday.

Sugbo TV is expected to resume broadcast on the first week of February.

Sugbo News, the official newsletter of the province, will be headed by lawyer Jo Feliz dela Calzada and is expected to undergo a reformat, like Sugbo TV.

PB Member Sitoy said they are finishing an inventory of all Sugbo TV facilities and equipment.

Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale also ordered the Provincial Government Services Office to conduct an inventory of all vehicles and facilities of the Capitol, including vehicles allocated to Garcia’s office.

She said Garcia can still use the red plate vehicle issued to her despite her suspension.

“But it’s up to Gwen to take care of the vehicles she uses because these are owned by the Capitol,” Magpale said.

As far as Sugbo TV is concerned, Sitoy said he wants any missing equipment reported.

“There are missing equipment, I want it blottered in the police. Anyone not authorized to possess these equipment can be arrested and charged,” he said.

Some former staff members of Sugbo TV are seen carrying and using video cameras during recent interviews with suspended Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia though they have already resigned.

Sitoy said they are currently filling up the vacant positions for Sugbo TV and News that’s under the Capitol’s Public Information Office.

“We are interacting with private sectors on now to improve Sugbo TV and Sugbo News,” he said.

Sitoy said she tapped the services of her daughter for “channeling and traffic” of Sugbo TV.

From 60 to 70 employees of both Sugbo TV and Sugbo News, Sitoy said they need to reduce it by about 35 percent.

“We reduced the budget for their salaries to P2 million from over P10 million,” he said.

Sitoy said there are programs in Sugbo TV that need to be removed.

“My daughter is very idealistic. The people whom she wanted to hire are also idealistic. They don’t want politics in Sugbo TV,” he said.

He said they also planned to remove the satellite of Sugbo TV which will be confined to Cebu only.

Sitoy said other provinces outside Cebu will no longer see Sugbo TV. “There will be a lot of changes,” he said.

Among the changes will be the airing of Cebuano independent films.

Natileigh said they are presently in need of two segment producers, three cameramen and a research writer, among others. She said they will start covering the Sinulog activities.

Acting Gov. Magpale earlier ordered to temporarily close Sugbo TV and Sugbo News last Dec. 21.

She said the province’s cable TV program and newsletter “don’t promote Cebu’s tourism but instead promotes the interest of suspended Governor Garcia.”

Magpale is the subject of a complaint filed by Rowena Zulueta, designated head of Sugbo TV, and Rufo Carzana, a reporter of the cable news channel who said press freedom was unduly restrained without valid reason.

Also named respondents were Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo Jr., chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7); Supt. Leopoldo Cabanag, head of the Regional Public Safety Battalion 7; and lawyer Czareem Joseph Estella, a consultant of Magpale’s Office.

They were accused of grave abuse of authority and other violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, and grave coercion for closing down Sugbo TV and Sugbo News. With Correspondent Renan Alagilan