NOT ABOUT FREEDOM
SMNI issue not a matter of press freedom, solon asserts
A member of the Makabayan bloc in the House of Representatives has rejected comparisons between ABS-CBN and SMNI, asserting that they are not both victims of press freedom suppression.
ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro argued that ABS-CBN’s existence contributes to press freedom, contrasting it with SMNI that was founded by televangelist Apollo Quiboloy.
“It seems that SMNI itself is a threat to press freedom with its advocacy of violence, disinformation (fake news), and intolerance (hate speech),” Castro alleged.
“Hindi ito tulad sa kaso ng ABS-CBN na [sinuportahang ipasara] ng mga Duterte dahil sa pagbatikos sa kanila,” she emphasized, alluding to former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s vocal opposition to ABS-CBN’s broadcast operations and displeasure with its reporting.
The progressive solon made the statement in response to assertions that SMNI sharing a fate similar to ABS-CBN constitutes a restriction on press freedom.
This, after the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a show cause order with 30-day suspension for SMNI due to several violations.
NTC directed SMNI to submit a written explanation within 15 days, justifying why it shouldn’t face administrative sanctions for violating operating conditions and non-compliance with laws and regulations.
In its directive, NTC acknowledged a House resolution calling for SMNI’s suspension.
The resolution held that SMNI violated the terms and conditions outlined in Republic Act (RA) No. 11422, the legislation that extended its congressional franchise for an additional 25 years from August 2019.
It pinpointed three violations by SMNI under its congressional franchise: intentional dissemination of false information, transferring shares without prior congressional approval, and failure to offer at least 30 percent of outstanding stock to the public through securities exchange or other participatory methods.
“As it stands now, the SMNI issue is shaping out not to be a press freedom issue,” Castro stressed.
Castro received a “death threat” from former President Duterte, aired on an SMNI program.
In 2020, Congress rejected ABS-CBN’s franchise renewal application, prompting NTC to issue a cease-and-desist order against the network.
