Proposed House reso urges suspension of SMNI operations

A member of the House of Representatives has proposed a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of Sonshine Media Network International for supposedly "violating the terms of its franchise."

PBA party-list Rep. Margarita Nograles filed House Resolution No. 1499 days after the House Committee on Legislative Franchises held a hearing on the claim that Speaker Martin Romualdez spent P1.8 billion on foreign trips—an allegation that has been belied by House records.

A financial report from the Office of the Secretary-General showed that the House’s entire budget for travel expenses was only P39.6 million, of which P4 million was spent by the Speaker.

"Pending the recommendation of the Committee on Legislative Franchises on the alleged violations of SMNI, it is the duty of the National Telecommunications Commission to immediately stop the deliberate dissemination of false information that may generate cynicism and mistrust on matters involving public interest," Nograles' proposed resolution read.

"Therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives to urge the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corporation operating under the business name Sonshine Media Network International, for violating the terms and conditions of its franchise under Republic Act No. 11422," it added.

GMA News Online has sought comment from SMNI but has yet to receive any as of posting time.

SMNI program host Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz has admitted in a House committee hearing that his source made a mistake as regards the travel expenses of Speaker Martin Romualdez.

In a hearing of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Nov. 30, Celiz was confronted about the information that Romualdez had a travel fund amounting to P1.8 billion.

"We are very much willing to admit that indeed the source was wrong. In this committee hearing, we are very appreciative of the guidance provided by the data," Celiz said.

He answered in the affrimative when asked if he was willing to recant and apologize to Congress.

"Wala pong problema sa akin personally 'yun because trabaho po namin na kilalanin ang pagkakamali kung may pagkakamali. Pero trabaho rin po namin ang magtanong," Celiz said.

(Personally, I don't have a problem with that because it is our job to admit a mistake if there is a mistake. But it is also our job to ask questions.) —NB, GMA Integrated News