MANILA, Philippines (Updated 7:42 p.m.) — The National Telecommunications Commission has suspended the operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for 30 days for alleged violations of its franchise terms.
According to a release, the NTC issued a suspension on all radio and television stations operated by SMNI on December 19 — the same day that the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board slapped a two-week preventive suspension on two SMNI programs.
Along with the suspension, NTC has also issued a show-cause order against Swara Sug Media Corporation — the firm that owns SMNI — and demanded an explanation in writing within 15 days upon receipt as to why it should not be administratively sanctioned.
The NTC’s decision was made with “due deference” to the House of Representatives, which recently adopted a resolution calling on the NTC to suspend the network over the alleged violation of at least three specific provisions of its legislative franchise.
“In ordering the 30-day suspension of Swara Sug’s operations of its radio and television stations pursuant to Section 16 (n) of the Public Service Act, as amended, the NTC took cognizance of the House of Representatives’ declaration in Resolution No. 189,” the NTC release stated.
The NTC also noted that it participated in the three hearings held by the House legislative franchise panel that led to the resolution urging the suspension of SMNI’s franchise.
The law granting SMNI a 25-year franchise, Republic Act 11422, was signed August 2019.
Accountability for 'disinformation'
Press freedom advocates and rights defenders have long flagged the network for being a platform for red-tagging and the spread of false information. But it took an allegation against House Speaker Martin Romualdez to spur the lower chamber into initiating action against the network, starting a chain of events in a span of three weeks that led to its programs being temporarily taken off the air.
Rep. Margarita Nograles (PBA Party-list) filed a resolution in early December that sought to suspend SMNI's franchise after its hosts Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz aired information on their program about Romualdez’s alleged P1.8 billion travel expenses in 2023. The allegation was quickly denied by House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, and Celiz and Badoy were summoned to the House for an investigation.
While the two hosts initially tried to defend themselves on their program the next day by saying that the allegation was stated in question format, Celiz eventually apologized to House lawmakers and admitted that his source was wrong. Both personalities were detained at the House after being cited in contempt, repeatedly calling House action against them as a press freedom issue.
Those who have long been critical about the network have mixed reactions over their suspension.
Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) said that the suspension of the network "is shaping out not to be a press freedom issue as its hosts and 'talents' want to project."
"With the recent hearings by the Committee on Legislative Franchise on SMNI, as well as some of the documents that we have seen, it seems that SMNI itself is a threat to press freedom with its advocacy of violence, disinformation (fake news) and intolerance (hate speech)," Castro said.
Meanwhile, Rep. Arlene Brosas (Gabriela Women's Party) called on the NTC to pursue the necessary sanctions against SMNI to hold them accountable for their alleged spread of disinformation on their various media platforms.
Brosas added: "For the longest time, the SMNI and the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict has been working hand-in-hand in spreading fake news and disinformation, targeting activists and progressive organizations.”
Press freedom advocates National Union of Journalists of the Philippines noted that the suspension of the network is reminiscent of the previous administration's attempts to "weaponize the law and muzzle media" and cautioned against cheering on what appears to be mere retaliation for the network's apparent offense against Romualdez.
"SMNI, its consultants and its talents should be held accountable for peddling disinformation and hate speech, but should be accountable for those offenses and not for simply offending a member of Congress," the NUJP said in a statement.
“Even as SMNI and its supporters cry press freedom and freedom of expression now, may they also reflect on how they cheered on and abetted similar moves when these tactics were being used against journalists and newsrooms,” it added.
During the last days of his term, former President Rodrigo Duterte admitted to using his presidential powers to kill the franchise of broadcast giant ABS-CBN.
Duterte was also notorious for making public threats to shut down media outfits he had issues with, such as Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, directing hate speech and distrust against members of the press in doing so.
The NTC will hold administrative hearings related to SMNI's case on January 4.