Erap orders probe of PTV-4

Manila Standard (page 26), Saturday, March 6, 1999

President Estrada yesterday ordered a full-scale investigation of the alleged anomalies in the government-run People's Television Network Inc.-Channel 4 and the "power struggle's" between two factions of top executives there.

The President was deeply disturbed over a report of the Commission on Audit (CoA) resident auditor about the alleged illegal disbursement of P18.5 million shortyly after the takeover of the TV networks by the president set of officials.

Presidential spokesman Jerry Barican said the President has requested CoA Chairman Celso Gangan to conduct a special audit of PTV-4, a government corporation attached to the Office of the Press Secretary.

Mr. Estrada has also directed the Presidential Management Staff under Secretary Leonora de Jesus to probe the reported feud between the group of PTV-4 board chairman Rey Rivera and network general manager Januario Jizon Jr.

The President authorized the PMS to enlist the help of the National Bureau of Investigation in its inquiry into the PTV-4 management squabble.

According to Barican, the investigation has been expanded by the President to include the sequestered Radio Philippines Network (RPN)-Channel 9.

RPN-9 will be subjected to financial, performance and operational audit by the PMS to determine the necessity of streamlining measures to ensure financial viability.

The sequestered station has been up for sale for months but the Palace wants to know what is delaying its privatization.

Another sequestered TV network -- the Intercontinental Broadcasting Corp. (IBC)-13 -- is not included in the audit.

Apparently, the Palace is satisfied with the operations of Channel 13 under the management of its president and general manager, actress Boots Anson-Roa.

The TV network has reportedly become profitable again through the reforms instituted by Anson-Roa.

A Malacañang source disclosed that the President, angered over alleged irregularities in PTV-4, ordered Jizon fired about a month ago.

But Jizon was instantly reinstated when Press Secretary Rod Reyez came to his defense and told the President the station general manager was actually the one cleaning up the mess there.

Jizon himself blamed Rivera and former sales division head Hernan Aguilar, whom he relieved last year, as those allegedly behind the "smear campaign" against him.

Jizon has denied any missing funds in the TV network. He expained that the money in question was not missing but was merely transferred to the general fund account for use in the station's day-to-day operations.