Nograles: Politics nothing to do with scrutiny on SMNI’s franchise violations

Photo from PBA party-list Rep. Migs Nograles’ official FB page.

MANILA, Philippines — PBA party-list Rep. Migs Nograles has questioned why some people behind Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) are blaming her for the scrutiny that it is receiving, noting that she has nothing to do with its franchise violations unearthed by the House.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Nograles asked SMNI what politics had to do with franchise violations, noting that it was the network’s choice not to comply with the provisions stated in their franchise under Republic Act No. 11422.

“So una ‘no, ano’ng kinalaman talaga po ng pulitiko sa mga violations nila sa franchise?  It has nothing to do with it; kung hindi sila nag-comply with their franchise and this goes beyond this year — this is their second round for the renewal of their franchise and they haven’t complied, ano’ng kinalaman po ng politics po do’n?” Nograles asked.

(So first, what do politicians have to do with the violations of their franchise?  It has nothing to do with it; if they would not comply with their franchise, and this goes beyond this year — this is their second round for the renewal of their franchise, and they haven’t complied, what does politics have to do with it?)

“Sa kanila naman po ‘yon, desisyon po nila na hindi mag-comply, and I do not know why hindi pa po tapos itong chapter na ‘to na nire-relate po ako sa SMNI,” she added.

(It’s up to them; they decided to avoid compliance, and I do not know why this chapter relating me to SMNI has not ended.)

According to Nograles, there could be no way that she influenced the network to refuse compliance with provisions in its franchise as she is neither a member of SMNI nor a part of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the religious denomination founded by Apollo Quiboloy which has been tied to the network.

“I am not a member of SMNI, the personalities that were said, the political personalities are not members of Kingdom of Jesus (Christ), nor do they have or I have myself have anything to do with the operations of SMNI.  ‘Wag po natin i-mislead or i-misinform at i-budol ang publiko na may bahid ng pulitika ‘to,” she said.

(Let us not mislead, misinform, and confuse the people with claims that politics is involved here.)

Nograles was asked the question after SMNI lawyer Rolex Suplico told the network’s Business and Politics program, hosted by The Manila Times chief Dante Ang II, that SMNI has become so powerful that some sectors want to hinder its growth.

But Nograles reminded the public that she only filed a resolution asking the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend SMNI’s operations and not the bill asking to revoke SMNI’s franchise.

She also noted that even if the measures are deliberated at the plenary, Nograles only has a single vote on the matter.

“Kahit naman po na ako po ‘yong nagfile ng resolution — at hindi po ako ‘yong nag-file ng revocation — it has nothing to do with politics,” she said.

(Even if I was the one who filed the resolution — and I did not file the bill calling for revocation — it has nothing to do with politics.)

“Maybe kailangan nilang tignan kung paano nila dedepensahin itong mga violations nila sa kanilang prangkisa que sa gamitin na naman ako para sabihin may political agenda po ito,” she added.

(Maybe they need to take a look at how to defend themselves amid these alleged violations of their franchise instead of using me to say this has a political agenda.)

On Monday, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting signed a subpoena order against Quiboloy, directing him to attend the hearings of the House committee on legislative franchises.

SMNI was initially probed by the House after Laban Kasama ang Bayan host Jeffrey Celiz wrongly claimed that Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for trips in 2023, when House Secretary General Reginald Velasco clarified that the total travel cost for all House members and their staff from January 2023 to October 2023 was only at P39.6 million.

Eventually, hearings on the network revealed possible violations of its franchise.  According to Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, they are looking at three possible violations of SMNI’s franchise:

• Section 4, which mandates SMNI or Swara Sug Media Corporation — the legal name of SMNI — to “provide at all times sound and balanced programming”
• Section 10, which mandates SMNI to inform Congress about the sale of the company to other owners or other major changes
• Section 11, which mandates the SMNI to offer at least 30 percent of its stock to the public