Surigao lawmaker wants SMNI franchise revoked amid violations

Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel
(Photo from the Facebook page of the House of Representatives)

MANILA, Philippines — Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel has insisted that the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) franchise should be revoked, due to the network’s violations and the continuous airing of a regional station despite its suspension.

Pimentel made the suggestion at the hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises on Wednesday, after panel chairperson and Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting confirmed with the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) that an SMNI station in Region 6 aired despite the suspension order.

Tambunting said that it seems NTC’s 30-day suspension order dated December 19, 2023 was delivered to SMNI by December 21, but the Region 6 station in question was reported to be still operating last December 27.

“Based on the submissions by our regional offices, our regional office in Region 6 indicated in their report that there was one station in Roxas City — we’ll have to check — in Region 6 and it was reported that there were indications that the station of SMNI in the area is still on air,” NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco told the panel.

So that was the basis of that information.  We received that report around December 27 Mr. Chair […] around that time it was reported that most of the stations had already been off-air, but for this particular station as reported by our region around that time, they indicated in the report that there was still a station in the area,” he added.

Pimentel then asked what NTC plans to do since SMNI defied the suspension order — to which Blanco replied by saying that the issue was a factor in NTC’s decision to issue an indefinite cease and desist order against the network.

“So what do you plan to do?  Are there any sanctions for the defiance of the suspension, because clearly, SMNI thinks they are above the law.  NTC is mandated to supervise radio stations, that’s your mandate.  But in this case despite the order SMNI didn’t follow — eh that’s their behavior, they feel like they are kings,” Pimentel said.

“Mr. Chair, that was also taken into account when the NTC eventually issued the CDO on 18 January.  So this was taken into account by the commission,” Blanco noted.

This prompted Pimentel to stay firm on his belief that SMNI’s franchise should be revoked.

“It is very clear that SMNI violated sections — not only one but four sections of their franchise — and they should be made answerable to that.  As I’ve said clearly before, that the franchise given to any entity is not a right but a privilege,” Pimentel stressed.

“In fact we will not delve into it anymore but somebody sent me images showing that there are so many personal attacks against the members of the committee including the chairman.  We’re not making this hearing to make it personal against you, but it is very clear that you committed violations.  So Mr. Chair, I still have that position that this committee should really consider the revocation of the franchise of SMNI,” he added.

Earlier, the panel also issued a subpoena against Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder and leader Apollo Quiboloy upon Pimentel’s motion.  This was for repeatedly ignoring the committee’s request for him to attend hearings.

READ: House panel subpoenas Quiboloy after repeated snub of hearings 

SMNI initially drew flak after Laban Kasama ang Bayan host Jeffrey Celiz wrongly claimed last October that Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for travel in just a year.

READ: NTC suspends SMNI operations for 30 days 

The issue prompted the House committee to start a hearing, during which Secretary-General Reginald Velasco clarified that the entire House only spent P39.60 million for foreign trips from January to October 2023.

The developments eventually prompted the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend  SMNI’s operations.