A lawmaker on Wednesday challenged the radio-TV network owned by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to prove, in person at the House of Representatives, its claim that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for travel in just a year.
Quezon Rep. David Suarez, who sought a congressional review of Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) franchise to operate, said he would like the House committee on legislative franchises to invite not only the broadcaster who made the claim on SMNI but the broadcasting station’s owner-franchise holder himself.
“I think it would be [a] prudent decision of the committee to invite the host. And I even, impose this challenge on them. Name your source because I have a document in my possession that says how much the House and the Speaker actually spent on their travel. What you are saying is P1.8 billion, so I want to know where it came from,” he said.
“Or is that just a number you pulled from the moon and mentioned on television? Because based on the documents and papers we have, that is not the truth,” Suarez added.
Suarez said he would like SMNI and its broadcaster to prove their claim. The allegations against Romualdez were made on the SMNI program “Laban Kasama Ang Bayan.”
“Show me your documents. Show me your data. Inform us who your source is and I will compare it to mine and there we will find out what the real truth is with regard to this issue,” he said.
He said both the Quiboloy network and its program host are accountable for the travel fund claim.
“Well, I feel that the network and the host are both accountable.
Because first of all, it was aired on their show. Second, as journalists, they are responsible, before they release any news article or news report, it has to be validated. Especially when it comes to figures and data we consider to be of national concern,” the Quezon lawmaker said.
The lawmaker on Tuesday said the SMNI reports were categorically false and constituted “fake news.”
The legislative franchises panel, chaired by Parañaque City 2ndDistrict Rep. Gus Tambunting, will begin its investigation following a motion on the floor by Lanao del Sur 1st District Rep. Zia Alonto Adiong.
