Former President Rodrigo Duterte would like to talk indirectly to President Marcos on investigations into Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), which broadcasts a program that he hosts, after two government agencies handed suspensions to the network and its programs last month over alleged false and defamatory content.
In a press conference Saturday night with media in Davao City, Duterte said that televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, who is considered the “ultimate beneficial owner” of SMNI, did not ask him to intervene on the issue.
The ex-President said his program on SMNI, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” (From the Masses, For the Masses), has been affected. “Ang ako lang concern karon is to help my friend, si Pastor, kay sa tinuod lang, kining NTC ba, wala man sila’y nakit-an (My concern now is to help my friend, Pastor, because in truth, the NTC has not found anything) … they have not come up even an allegation of any wrongdoing,” Duterte claimed in a mix of Bisaya and Tagalog.
“Sonshine has always been careful. Ug nganong na-ingon ana, wala langpud ko mo (If they are saying otherwise, I have not yet said anything). I’m just biding my time,” he added.
“One of these days, I’ll come up with a statement, not necessarilydefending Pastor Quiboloy, but just to say something about the way things are, and it would mean (for) Pastor Quiboloy, or anybody for that matter,” Duterte claimed.
“Wala ko’y nakit-an nga naay gisunod nga hustong procedure. Wala akong nakitang procedure na tama na sinunod (I haven’t seen anything that followed correct procedure. I haven’t seen a procedure followed correctly),” he added of SMNI’s 30-day suspension and his TV program’s 14-day suspension.
“I do not want confront the President (Marcos), but rather, I’d like to talk to him indirectly kung bakit ganoon (why is that so),” Duterte said. “As far as I am concerned, I have not crucified him, not even criticize him severely, maybe commented on the directions of the government.”
As for his program Gikan sa Masa, Duterte said: “I don’t know if I strayed along the courteous path, (that would not be) correct. I cannot remember criticizing severely anybody there in government.”
Last December, the NTC issued a 30-day suspension order against SMNI, based on a resolution of the House of Representatives accusing the network of violating certain provisions of its franchise.
In its hearings, the House found that the network violated its franchise thrice with its alleged failure to obtain congressional consent for the change of ownership of its shares of stock, alleged failure to distribute 30 percent of its ownership to the public, and failure to fulfill its responsibility to the public when it allegedly spread misinformation and threats.
SMNI’s camp previously denied violating its franchise, adding that if there were indeed violations, the network should be given a chance to rectify it.
The NTC also issued a show cause order asking SMNI to explain within 15 days “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.”
Meanwhile, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board issued a preventive suspension on two shows on SMNI for 14 days after a review and investigation into alleged violations in their content.
Apart from “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa,” MTRCB suspended the SMNI program “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” effective Dec. 18 “to prevent further violations or protect the interest and welfare of the public.” With Maricel Cruz
