Badoy, Celiz released from House detention

The spirit of Christmas served as the grounds for the release of Sonshine Media Network International hosts Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz and Lorraine Badoy from the premises of the House of Representatives following a week of detention.

Their release follows the order signed by the House committee on legislative franchises–which held Celiz and Badoy in contempt–on humanitarian considerations.

Celiz and Badoy were ordered detained last Tuesday for their refusal to answer questions relevant to the hearing and misbehavior during the panel's investigation into SMNI's dissemination of false information against public officials, including Speaker Romualdez and other entities, in violation of Republic Act 11422.

SMNI is using a 25-year franchise enacted in August 2019 as RA 1142.

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

While Celiz eventually admitted that the information he obtained from his male "source" in the Senate was false, he has been headstrong in withholding his source's identity, citing the Sotto Law or RA 11458, which exempts journalists from disclosing their sources.

The anchors' defiance earned the ire of the panel, saying their disobedience runs counter to Sections 11 and E of the House rules, resulting from their detention.

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

Last week, SMNI legal officer Atty. Mark Tolentino said that he will seek the committee's consideration to grant "for humanitarian reasons" the detained anchors a furlough in time for the holidays.

The panel, chaired by Paranaque Rep. Gus Tambunting, ordered the release a day after the male anchor had backed down and divulged the identity of his "source" but exclusively to him.

The committee took note of Celiz's letter to the panel, wherein he offered his profuse apology and appealed for clemency to be released from detention.

"All in all, we have taken in cognizance Mr. Celis' apology, his admission that what he mentioned was fake news, and his earnest appeal to be released to attend to his ailing mother," Tambunting told reporters on Tuesday.

"We are ordering the release of Mr. Celis and Ms. Badoy-Partosa on humanitarian grounds and in the spirit of the Yuletide season. No more, no less," he added.

Celiz and Badoy had apologized to the House and Romualdez, expressing remorse for any harm caused by their false statements.

Nevertheless, they affirmed that they are not complicit in any slander campaign against Congress.

On Monday, the House gave its final nod to House Resolution 1499, urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend SMNI's operations for alleged gross violation of the terms and conditions of its franchise under RA 1142.

The resolution was adopted on the plenary floor just hours after it was approved by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises during the conclusion of its third hearing.

Meanwhile, 1Rider Partylist Rep. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez filed House Bill 9710, repealing the franchise of SMNI for breaching various provisions of its franchise.