House approves reso seeking to suspend SMNI franchise

The House of Representatives on Monday gave its nod to a resolution seeking to cease the franchise operation of the Sonshine Media Network International, legally operating as Swara Sug Media Corporation.

The chamber adopted House Resolution 1499, just hours after it was approved by the House committee on legislative franchise during the conclusion of its third hearing on Monday into SMNI's possible violations of its franchise.

HR 1499, filed by PBA Partylist Rep. Margarita Nograles, urges the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend SMNI's operations for alleged gross violation of the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act 1142, which granted the network a 25-year franchise renewal.

The law was enacted in August 2019.

The six-hour-long hearing brought up multiple alleged violations committed by the SMNI, including breaches of the rules set forth by the House.

Nograles said the SMNI infringed Sections 4, 10 and 11 of RA 11422, Section 114 of the Revised Corporation Code, and Article 12, Section 19 and Article 16, Section 11 of the 1987 Constitution, which unequivocally demands the regulation or prohibition of monopolies as this is against the public interest.

The network, she said, likewise violated several provisions of Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas' Broadcast Code as well as Section 11 (c) and (e) of the House Rules.

"This is not an attack on the freedom of the press. Rather, we are defending the right of the people to have an accurate and true reporting so they can formulate honest opinions and thus, contribute positively to the society," Nograles said.

The congressional inquiry was prompted by SMNI's hosts Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz and Lorraine Badoy's statement on the network's "Laban Kasama Ang Bayan" aired on 27 November, alleging that Speaker Martin Romualdez had incurred a P1.8 billion in travel expenses, which Secretary-General Reginald Velasco debunked citing official records.

The previous hearings also probed SMNI's alleged dissemination of false information against public officials and other entities that run counter to the provisions of its legislative franchise, which prohibits the grantee from using its stations "for the broadcasting of obscene or indecent language, speech, act, or scene; or for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest."

Celiz and Badoy have been confined to the premises of the House since last week after they were cited in contempt for their defiance, misbehavior during the investigation and refusal to answer questions.

While Celiz eventually admitted to the panel that the information he obtained from his male "source" in the Senate was false, he has refused to disclose his source's identity, citing the Sotto Law or RA 11458 which exempts publishers, editors or reporters from disclosing their sources.

However, lawmakers countered that the Sotto Law is not applicable to Celiz and Badoy since they are both unaccredited broadcast journalists with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas.

Nearly one week into their detention, Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, the panel's chair, told reporters on Monday that Celiz had backed down and divulged the identity of his "source", but exclusively to him.

Tambunting said Celiz's confession would not automatically exonerate him from detention.

"That is not automatic. But we will have to study the options now," the lawmaker said.

Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, vice chair of the committee, previously said that there is a "very big possibility" that Celiz and Badoy would be confined in the Congress' premises until Christmas and New Year.