The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) said Thursday it suspended the operations Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for 30 days over alleged violations of its franchise terms.
SMNI is the media arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The regulator, acting on the House of Representative’s Resolution No. 189, issued a show cause order to SMNI, with 30-day suspension order dated Dec. 19, 2023. The House resolution urged the NTC to “suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corp. operating under the business name SMNI, for violating the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act No. 11422”
It asked Swara Sug to explain in writing within 15 days from the receipt of the order why it should not be administratively sanctioned for alleged violation of the condition of its authorities to comply with all the laws, rules and regulations of the land.
The NTC said that it took cognizance of the House of Representatives’ declaration in Resolution No. 189 that Swara Sug violated at least three specific provisions of its legislative franchise.
“Republic Act No. 11422, and gave due deference to such determination of the House of Representatives and its authority over all matters directly and principally relating to the grant, amendment, extension, or revocation of franchises,” the NTC said.
The NTC was one of the invited agencies and participated as resource person/agency in three committee hearings conducted by the House committee on legislative franchises, which led to the issuance of Resolution No. 189.
“The corresponding administrative hearing by the NTC following the issuance of said order will be on Jan. 4, 2024,” the regulator said.
The House committee earlier endorsed the measure for plenary action, putting pressure on the NTC to suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corp.
The franchise panel inquiry was initiated following Deputy Majority Leader and Quezon Rep. David Suarez’s privileged speech, addressing purported fake news, baseless red-tagging and misinformation surrounding Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez’s alleged P1.8 billion travel expenses.
House officials debunked this claim, presenting official records indicating a total House travel expense of P39.6 million from January to October, with the Office of the Speaker disbursing only P4.3 million.
Jeffrey Celiz, a host on SMNI’s “Laban Kasama ng Bayan” program, acknowledged that the information source regarding the incorrect P1.8-billion travel expenses he mentioned during the live broadcast was inaccurate and was not validated.