The 30-day suspension of television channel, Sonshine Media Network International News is "patently unconstitutional," according to former President Rodrigo Duterte's ex-spokesperson, Lawyer Salvador Panelo. 

Panelo, in a statement on Saturday, lashed the National Telecommunications Commission's imposition of sanction against the network which he noted did not go through due process. 

"The order of the NTC suspending the operations of SMNI for 30 days pending investigation by it for certain alleged violations of its franchise is patently unconstitutional for having been issued without due process being given to SMNI," he said. 

Panelo, who was also Duterte's former legal counsel, said the sanction is a "brazen assault on the freedom of the press and creates a chilling effect to all other broadcasting networks."

The NTC's move, he added, also "seals the lips of SMNI to perform its function to disseminate information and news to the public and 

"It transgresses the rights of the program hosts and anchors to express themselves in their chosen platform," Panelo said.

He added. "It likewise curtails the right of the people to information on their preferred communication network." 

Panelo scored the NTC for "violating  its own created implementing rules and regulations in that the suspension order was made without the required consequent serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public and private interests should it not issue the cease operations order."

He said the NTC "blatantly abuses" its regulatory power "that is outrageously abhorrent and constitutionally obnoxious and impermissible."