Former president Rodrigo Duterte said he would like to speak with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., even "indirectly," regarding the government's suspension of the Sonshine Media Network International, or SMNI.
In an interview with Davao-based reporters late Saturday, Duterte rued that his program on SMNI, "Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa," was impacted by the suspension.
Duterte said he does not remember "severely" criticizing any government official in his show.
"Kasi nadali ang Gikan sa Masa (The show was affected). I do not want to confront the president, but rather, I'd like to talk to him indirectly, kung bakit ganoon (why it happened). I have not crucified him, not even criticized him severely, maybe commented on the direction of the government," he said.
"I don't know if I strayed from the courteous path, hindi (not) correct, but courteous. I cannot remember severely criticizing anybody in government," he added.
In response, Malacañang said Marcos is always open to talking with the former president.
"President Marcos is always available to former President Duterte. The president will contact him now to ask if he wants a meeting," Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil told Palace reporters in a Viber message.
The National Telecommunications Commission on 21 December suspended SMNI's broadcast activities for 30 days due to purported franchise violations.
SMNI is the broadcasting arm of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy's Kingdom of Jesus Christ, owned and run by Swara Sug Media Corporation.
Last week, SMNI requested that regulators be inhibited in their administrative complaint against the network on the grounds of undue bias.
The Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, or MTRCB, ordered the cancellation of two SMNI shows, including "Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa."
The allegations stemmed from an episode in which Duterte allegedly made a death threat against Rep. France Castro, a member of the ACT Teachers Partylist.
Duterte said that he does not support the NTC's move and that the broadcasting corporation has done "nothing wrong" since SMNI has "always been careful."
The former president also said he wanted to help Quiboloy, SMNI's honorary chairman, who is also his spiritual adviser.
"Ang akong concern karon (My only concern) is to help my friend, si Pastor, kay sa tinuod lang (because to be honest), kining NTC ba, wala man sila'y nakit-an (NTC has not seen anything), they have not come up with any allegations or charge of any wrongdoing," Duterte said.
"Ang Sonshine has always been careful. I'm just biding my time. One of these days siguro (maybe), I'll come up with a statement, not necessarily defending Pastor Quiboloy, but just to say something about the way things are, and it would mean Pastor Quiboloy, or anybody for that matter," Duterte added.
The former president said that he had not seen any proper procedures being followed, adding that he was just doing what he could since his show was also affected.