Padilla hits NTC’s ‘lack of due process’ in suspending SMNI

On Friday, Senator Robinhood "Robin" Padilla slammed the National Telecommunications Commission after it issued a month-long suspension order against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy-owned Sonshine Media Network International.

Padilla, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media, called the suspension order "baseless" and a "transgression" of the media network's right to due process.

"The baseless issuance of a 30-day suspension order is a transgression of SMNI's right to due process, which will result in serious and irreparable damage to it and its employees no less," he said in a statement.

On Thursday, the NTC announced its decision to suspend the operations of SMNI after it allegedly violated at least three provisions on the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act 11422.

The agency particularly pointed out that the media network violated 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.

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Padilla said he would formally file a resolution to condemn the issuance of a suspension order against SMNI when the Senate resumes work in January.

He noted that the SMNI has been "instrumental" in assisting the government in its anti-terrorism campaign through its programs seeking to educate the public against "communist propaganda and recruitment strategies."

"The NTC, in its show cause and suspension order, failed to indicate the need to suspend the operations of the SMNI, much more express how this is necessary to avoid serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or private interests," he said.

"In the absence of proof of serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or private interests that may be caused by SMNI's continued operations, the general rule shall apply wherein the NTC shall have the power, upon proper notice and hearing, to issue a suspension order under the Public Services Act," he added.

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 "thorough 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 the red-tagging duo Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz, was also suspended after Celiz claimed that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on his travel expenses for this year.