NTC sinuspindi SMNI nang 30-araw dahil sa 'paglabag' sa prangkisa

Apollo Quiboloy, head of "the Kingdom of Jesus Christ," a non-Catholic religious group and spiritual adviser of president-elect Rodrigo Duterte, speaks during a press conference in Davao City in southern island of Mindanao on May 23, 2016.
AFP/Manman Dejeto

MANILA, Philippines — Pinatawan ng isang buwang suspensyon ng National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) ang isang kontrobersyal na media network matapos diumano suwayin ang mga kondisyones ng kanilang prangkisa.

Isinapubliko ng NTC ang kanilang desisyon sa isang pahayag, Miyerkules, ilang araw matapos suspindihin ng Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTCRB) ang dalawang programa ng Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) kaugnay ng pag-eere ng death threats at "unverified reports."

"The [NTC]... has issued a Show Cause Order with Thirty (30)-day Suspension order (Order) dated 19 December 2023 against Swara Sug Media Corporation (Swara Sug) with Business/Trade Name Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)," wika ng komisyon sa ulat ng News5, Huwebes.

"In said Order, the NTC directed Swara sug to explain in writing within fifteen (15) days from receipt thereof why it should be administratively sanctioned for alleged violation of the considion of its authorities to comply with all the laws, rules and regulations of the land."

Paliwanag ng NTC, isina-alang-alang nila ang House Resolution 189 na nagsasabing gumawa ng "tatlong paglabag" sa legislative franchise nito (Republic Act 11422).

Ito ang aksyong ginawa ng komisyon matapos tugunan ang House Resolution 189 o "Resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of Swara Sug Media Corporation operating under the business name Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI)."

"The NTC was one of the invited agencies and participated as resource person/agency in three (3) committee hearings conducted by the House of Representatives' Committee on Legislative Franchises, which led to the issurance of Resolution No. 189," dagdag ng NTC.

"The corresponding administrative hearing by the NTC following the issurance of said Order will be on 04 January 2024." 

'Takot ba tayo sa SMNI?'

Kwinestyon naman ni Sen. Imee Marcos ang suspension order laban sa himpilan, lalo na't isa raw ito sa mga media entities na "nagtataguyod ng kalayaan ng pamamahayag, pananalita, at pag-iisip."

"Bakit natin kailangang ipasara ang lahat ng hindi sumasang-ayon sa atin? Hindi man lang binibigyan ng pagkakataon magpaliwanag," wika ng senadorang kapatid ni Pangulong Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"Paano nangyari na naghlabas ng show-cause order ang NTC sabay bigay ng 30-araw na suspensyon? Nakapagtataka!"

"Takot ba tayo na baka tama ang SMNI? Takot ba tayo sa katotohanan?"

 

Grupo ng journo maingat sa utos

Bagama't matagal nang binabatikos ng National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) ang SMNI, maingat sila sa ngayon pagdating sa kautusang ibinaba ng NTC lalo na't kahalintulad daw ito ng ginawa ng mga nakaraang administrasyon sa "paggamit ng batas para magpatahimik ng media."

"Media workers have the right to feel vindicated or even celebrate these developments but we cannot lose sight of how these moves have been used against ABS-CBN, Bulatlat and PinoyWeekly," sabi ng NUJP sa isang pahayag.

"Similar weaponization of the law has been used against Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer. That said, we reiterate that red-tagging that SMNI allows on its programs does harm."

 

 

Aniya, makailang beses na rin nauwi sa harassment, surveillance at red-tagging ang mga journo at civil society dahil sa mga kontrobersyal na programa ng SMNI.

Gayunpaman, dapat pa rin daw mapanagot ang SMNI, mga konsultant nito at talents sa pagpapakalat ng "disinformation at hate speech." Doon daw nararapat masilip ang media network at hindi basta sa pagkaka-offend ng miyembro ng Kamara.

Una nang inirereklamo ang SMNI matapos ilabas sa kanilang programang "umabot sa P1.8 bilyon" ang travel expenses ni House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Aminado ang host ng "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" na si Jeffrey Celiz na nanggaling lang ang impormasyon sa isang source mula sa Senado.

"Even as SMNI and its supporters cry press freedom and freedom of expression now, may they also reflect on how they cheered on and abetted similar moves when these tactics were being used against journalists and newsrooms," panapos ng NUJP. — may mga ulat mula sa News5

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