MANILA, Philippines – Isang resolusyon ang inihain sa Kamara ni PBA Partylist Rep Margarita Nograles na humihiling na suspendihin ang operasyon ng Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) dahil sa paglabag nito sa kanilang legislative franchise sa ilalim ng Republic Act 11422.
Pinakikilos ni Nograles ang National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) laban sa Swara Sug Media Corporation, ang business name ng SMNI.
Ayon kay Nograles na isang abogado, nilabag ng SMNI ang kanilang prangkisa dahil sa pagpapakalat nito ng fake news, pangunahin na rito ang alegasyon na ang travel expenses ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez ay umabot sa P1.8 billion sa loob ng isang taon.
“SMNI is mandated not to use its stations or facilities for the deliberate dissemination of false information or willful misrepresentation to the detriment of the public interest whereas, SMNI failed in its responsibility to the public by deliberately disseminating false information, thus, some Members of the House of Representatives filed House Resolutions and urged the NTC to look into any violation of the terms and conditions of franchise committed by SMNI,” nakasaad sa resolusyong inihain ni Nograles.
Una na ring sinita ni Quezon Rep Jayjay Suarez ang fake news na ipinalalabas ng SMNI sa kanilang programang ‘Laban Kasama ng Bayan.’
Ani Nograles, mismong si House Secretary General Reginald Velasco ang naglinaw na P4.34 million lamang ang foreign travels na ginasta ni House Speaker sa loob ng Enero hangang Oktubre ng 2023 habang P35.25 million para sa ibang mga mambabatas o kabuuang P39.6 million, giit ni Nograles, malayo ito sa alegasyong P1.8 billion.
Si Jeffrey Celiz, ang host ng Laban Kasama ng Bayan ay una nang humingi ng paumanhin sa kanyang maling impormasyon gayunpaman sinita ni Nograles na hindi na dapat maulit ang pagpapakalat nito ng fake news.
“With the admission that the source of information was wrong and that the information was not vetted, in addition to the various complaints filed against the SMNI for fake news peddling and red-tagging, it is clear that SMNI violated its responsibility to the public not to use its stations or facilities for the deliberate dissemination of false information or willful misrepresentation to the detriment of the public interest,” pagtatapos pa ni Nograles. Gail Mendoza
