Senator Imee Marcos on Thursday questioned the decision of the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of the Swara Sug Media Corporation, also known as Sonshine Media Network International for 30 days.

Marcos, eldest sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., slammed the NTC for issuing a suspension order against the media network owned by the Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy.

"Who's afraid of SMNI? Which media entities will remain to uphold the freedom of the press, speech, and thought?" she said in a statement.

"Why must we shut down all those who do not agree with us, not even allowing the chance to explain first? How could the NTC issue a show-cause order but simultaneously hand down a 30-day suspension? Amazing!" she added.

She continued: "Are we afraid that SMNI may be right? Are we afraid of the truth?"

According to the NTC, SMNI violated at least three provisions on the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act 11422, particularly Section 4 or its responsibility to the public by "deliberately spreading false information," Section 10 or Sale, Lease, Transfer, Grant of Usufruct, or Assignment of Franchise, and Section 11 or Dispersal of Ownership.

The agency gave SMNI 15 days from receipt of the order to explain why the company should not be administratively sanctioned.

The NTC said it was acting on House Resolution No. 189, which urged the suspension of the media network over alleged violations of its franchise's terms and conditions.

The suspension order came days after the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board announced the suspension order for two SMNI programs, one hosted by former President Rodrigo Duterte, for 14 days.

MTRCB said it ordered the suspension of Duterte's "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa," and "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" after a "through review and investigation"

The media watchdog said complaints were filed against the "Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa" October 10 episode where Duterte aired a death threat against ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

Meanwhile, the SMNI program "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" hosted by red-tagging duo Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz was also suspended after Celiz claimed that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for his travel expenses for this year.

During the legislative inquiry into the SMNI anchor's claim, Celiz said that the person who informed him of the Speaker's alleged ballooning travel expenses was a Senate employee.

Citing Republic Act 53 or the "Sotto Law" which protects journalists from revealing their news sources, Celis refused to name his source.

Both Badoy and Celiz were cited in contempt at the House of Representatives for "repeatedly lying" to lawmakers on 5 December.

Following a week of being detained in the lower chamber, the two SMNI anchors were released on 12 December for "humanitarian grounds."