A House of Representatives panel has launched an investigation into alleged franchise violations by Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
The panel, chaired by Parañaque City Rep. Gustavo Tambunting, is questioning SMNI representatives and its anchors Jeffrey Celiz and Lorraine Marie Badoy over a broadcast in which Celiz raised questions about the travel expenses of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Celiz’s claims that Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on travel have been disputed by the House secretary general, who said that the Speaker’s office actually spent P4.3 million on travel, while the total House travel expenditure amounted to over P35.3 million.
Celiz has acknowledged that his source may have been wrong, but he maintains that he was only asking a question and not making a definitive statement. SMNI lawyers have also argued that no allegation was made on the P1.8 billion travel expenses because Celiz was only asking a question.
The panel is scrutinizing SMNI’s franchise grant in light of Section 4 of Republic Act No. 11422, which prohibits the grantee from using its stations or facilities for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation, to the detriment of the public interest.
National Telecommunications Commission deputy commissioner Alvin Blanco has told the panel that SMNI’s actions appear to be in violation of its franchise. The panel’s investigation is ongoing.
Source: PhilNews24 | December 1, 2023
