DAVAO CITY — Former president Rodrigo Duterte wanted to “indirectly” talk with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to help his friend pastor Apolo Quiboloy over the investigation of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a network owned by the evangelist.
In sending his message to President Marcos, Duterte in a press conference Saturday night said, “I do not want to control the President but rather I want to talk to him indirectly.”
Facing the Davao media for the first time after he stepped down from Malacañan in June 30, 2022, Duterte said, “Ang ako lang concern karon is to help my friend si pastor Quiboloy, kay sa tinoud lang, they have not come up with allegations to any wrongdoings, nganong na ingon ana, I am just vying my time but one of these days siguro, I will come up with a statement, not necessarily defending pastor Quiboloy but just something to say about the way things are.”
(My only concern is to help my friend pastor Quiboloy, to be honest, they have not come up with allegations to any wrongdoings, why it happened?. I am just vying my time but one of these days maybe, i will come up with a statement, not necessarily defending pastor Quiboloy but to say something about the way things are.”
In further defending Quiboloy, Duterte said, he did not see any mistake with the network.
The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a 14-day suspension against two (2) SMNI programs, one of which is Duterte’s “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” .
On December 19, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) slapped a 14-day preventive suspension order on two programs of SMNI, saying that after a “thorough review and investigation” on supposed violations on the show’s aired content.
The statement added “Upon careful review and consideration of recent events and complaints received by the board, it was found that certain aspects of the above-mentioned programs may have violated the established guidelines and standards set by Presidential Decree 1986 and its implementing rules and regulations governing broadcasting content.”
The NTC through MTRCB, ordered the suspension after Representative Margarita Nograles of PBA Party-list filled a resolution urging the NTC to suspend the the SMNI while the House is looking into the possible violations committed by the network.
In an interview with ANC two weeks ago, Nograles said, “The network violated the Sec. 4 of the NTC law which speaks of willful and deliberate misinformation which was admitted by the representatives of the network during the Committee hearing.”
Aside from Sector 4, Nograles added, the network also violated “Section 10 is about the controlling interest of the franchise, the franchise was still in effect” but the SMNI reportedly transferred the franchise :Without the knowledge of the Congress. It states there that they should submit a report to Congress which hindi naman nila ginawa (which they never did). For the last 29 years now, there is no disclosure of ownership.”
SMNI is based in Davao City, it is owned and operated by Swara Sug Media Corporation and is reportedly a broadcasting arm of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) led by Quiboloy.
The NTC has issued a 30-day suspension against SMNI operations for allegedly violating the terms and conditions of its franchise. The SMNI counsel have requested regulators to give them until January 20 so they can properly answer the allegations against their client.
