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

Marcos, the elder sister of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., slammed the NTC for issuing a suspension order against the media network owned by 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. "Are we afraid that SMNI may be right? Are we afraid of the truth?"

"Why must we shut down all those who do not agree with us, not even allowing them 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.

According to the NTC, SMNI violated at least three provisions in 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."

It also allegedly violated Section 10 or the Sale, Lease, Transfer, Grant of Usufruct, or Assignment of Franchise, and Section 11 or the Dispersal of Ownership.

The NTC gave SMNI 15 days to explain why it should not be administratively sanctioned.

The NTC said it was acting on House Resolution 189, which urged the suspension of the media network over alleged violations of its franchise terms and conditions.

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

The MTRCB said it suspended Duterte's "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" program and "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" hosted by Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz after a "thorough review and investigation."