The National Telecommunications Commission has suspended the radio and television operations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for 30 days for alleged franchise violations, coming on the heels of a 14-day suspension order slapped on its two shows, including one hosted by former President Rodrigo Duterte.
SMNI, as well as Senator Imee Marcos and the PDP-Laban wing led by Duterte, questioned the suspension orders, raising the issue of press freedom.
The National Union of Journalists, however, said that while it was concerned with the NTC suspension order being “reminiscent of the previous [Duterte] administration’s attempts to weaponize the law and muzzle media,” the red-tagging that SMNI allows on its programs “does harm.”
“Vilification of journalists and of members of civil society that SMNIallows on its shows can and has translated to harassment, surveillanceand targeting of the red-tagged. SMNI, its consultants, and its talents should be held accountable for peddling disinformation and hate speech, but should be accountable for those offenses and not for simply offending a member of Congress,” the NUJP said.
“Even as SMNI and its supporters cry press freedom and freedom of expression now, may they also reflect on how they cheered on and abetted similar moves when these tactics were being used against journalists and newsrooms,” it added.
The NTC’s suspension order came after the House approved Resolution No. 189 urging the regulator to suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corporation, operating under the business name SMNI, for violating the terms and conditions of its franchise.
In its order, the NTC directed SMNI to explain in writing within 15 days why it should not be administratively sanctioned. It scheduled its administrative hearing on the SMNI case on Jan. 4, 2024.
Earlier, the MTRCB halted the “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa” program after Duterte was accused of threatening 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.
Senator Marcos said shutting down SMNI operations is tantamount to muzzling free press.
“Who’s afraid of SMNI? Why must we shut down all those who do not agree with us, not even allowing them the chance to explain first?” the presidential sister asked.
“Are we afraid that SMNI may be right? Are we afraid of the truth?” Senator Marcos added.
Castro, however, said SMNI’s suspension was not a press freedom issue. Castro said SMNI itself “is a threat to press freedom with its advocacy of violence, disinformation (fake news) and intolerance (hate speech).”
“We hope that the measures for accountability of SMNI, its hosts, executives and owners… will continue because they have abused the network,” the lawmaker said.
The Duterte-wing of the PDP-Laban, for its part, questioned the 14-day suspension order issued by the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, calling it an attack on press freedom.
“This is a clear affront to the freedom of expression. The MTRCB has sent a chilling message to the Philippine media, most especially broadcast [media] in this act of curtailing our freedoms which presents a clear danger to our democracy,” PDP Laban secretary general Aimee Torrefranca-Neri said.
SMNI Legal Officer Mark Tolentino said they will file an appeal with the MTRCB within the week.
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.