Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) will appeal the 14-day suspension order slapped on its two shows, including one hosted by former President Rodrigo Duterte, citing the issue of press freedom.
However, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines asserted that press freedom cannot be used to justify hate speech and disinformation.
The “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa” program was halted after Duterte threatened ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro in the show’s October and November episodes.
Meanwhile, the suspension of the show “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” came after anchors Jeffrey Celiz and Lorraine Badoy-Partosa falsely claimed Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion in travel expenses in a year.
“While we are wary of government censorship, we note that the network was given due process on its potential violations, due process that was not given to the individuals and organizations that Badoy-Partosa and Celiz brazenly defamed on their show,” the NUJP said in a statement.
“Freedom of expression and the freedom of the press are not blanket justifications for hate speech, vilification and threats,” the group added.
SMNI Legal Officer Mark Tolentino told ABS-CBN News they will file an appeal within the week.
“Before Christmas, we will file our appeal / motion for reconsideration….It is only a preventive suspension. It is not a penalty,” he said.
“Main argument is due process, freedom of press. Decision of MTRCB might have conflict with the decision of the prosecutor’s office of Quezon City. Preventive suspension is not necessary pending investigation. There is no urgency,” Tolentino added.
The MTRCB said it issued a warning to SMNI that similar incidents will be dealt with more sternly. The television network committed to pre-record and review episodes before airing.
Castro on Tuesday welcomed the suspension order, saying it was “long overdue.”
“But at last now something has been done to curtail the constant red-tagging, spreading of disinformation and threatening of individuals using these two shows as well as the network,” she said.
“Hopefully this marks the start of SMNI and the people behind it being made accountable. The authorities should look into the pattern and consistent red-tagging, terrorist-labelling for longer and more decisive measures,” the lawmaker added.
Castro earlier filed a grave threat complaint against Duterte after the latter gave on-air advice to his daughter, Vice President Sara Duterte, about how she could use intelligence and confidential funds allocated to her office and the education department, which she also heads.
“Your first target with your intelligence fund is you, you France.
Tell her, ‘It is you communists who I want to kill,’” Duterte said in the interview that was reshared thousands of times on Facebook. It was later deleted from SMNI’s Facebook page.