Bill proposing to suspend SMNI franchise filed
A BILL seeking to suspend the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for allegedly spreading false information about House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and his travel expenses.
“Knowing further that misinformation and misinterpretation can have serious implications most especially in shaping public opinion, and thus create potential social and political divide, the operation of Swara Sug or SMNI is considered a threat to national security and stability,” Party-list Rep. Ramon Rodrigo L. Gutierrez said in House Bill (HB) No. 9710.
SMNI’s legislative franchise was granted in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11422.
On Monday, congressmen adopted House Resolution No. 1499, calling on the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend operations of Swara Sug Media Corp., which operates SMNI.
The move was ignited after host Jeffrey Celiz in SMNI’s Laban Kasama ng Bayan program said that Mr. Romualdez allegedly spent P1.8 billion in travel expenses in one year.
HB 9710 also cited franchise violations committed by Swara Sug amid changes in its corporate structure without Congress approval.
“In 2006, it transitioned from being a non-stock, non-profit corporation to a corporation sole under the Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. However, in 2023… [he] was replaced by one Bro. Marlon Acobo in the corporation sole,” he said, referring to the pastor wanted in the United States for sex trafficking charges.
Last month, the House also adopted a resolution seeking to uphold its “integrity and honor” amid former president Rodrigo R. Duterte’s remarks in another SMNI program, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” against the chamber after they voted to strip his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte-Carpio, of her office’s confidential funds for next year. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
