House panel adopts measure to suspend SMNI operations

Manila Bulletin

The measure seeking to suspend the operations of controversial television network SMNI has been adopted by the House Committee on Legislative Franchises.   Adopted on Tuesday night, Dec. 5 during a marathon hearing of the committee was House Resolution (HR) No,1499, which was filed by House Assistant Majority Leader Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita "Migs" Nograles.   READ MORE: https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/6/house-panel-adopts-measure-to-suspend-smni-operations

Transcript

00:00 House Resolution Number 1499, introduced by the Honorable Margarita Atty. Migs-Nograres,

00:11 a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend the operations of Suara

00:18 Submedia Corporation, operating under the name of Sunshine Media Network International,

00:25 for violating the terms and conditions of the franchise under Republic Act 11-422.

00:34 The Honorable Migs-Nograres is recognized.

00:37 Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, respected colleagues, and to everyone present, good

00:44 evening. Good evening, na po.

00:47 A legislative franchise is the privilege granted by the state through its legislative body,

00:55 and is subject to regulation by the state itself by virtue of its police power through

01:00 its administrative agencies. A legislative franchise of a mass media company is not a

01:08 right. It is a mere privilege that must be exercised with extreme caution because this

01:14 industry is imbued with public interest.

01:17 Unfortunately, it appears that Suara Submedia, operating under the business name Sunshine

01:25 Media Network International, failed to exercise such caution.

01:31 We can see under Section 4 and discussions today that there are violations already under

01:37 RA 11-422, and Suara Submedia has the responsibility to the public not to use its stations or facilities

01:48 for the dissemination of deliberately false information or willful misrepresentation to

01:56 the detriment of the public interest.

01:59 As we have heard in today's hearing, there are several instances where SMNI beddled fake

02:09 news against certain public officials. They themselves are not denying these instances.

02:17 As representatives of the people, us, congressmen, have the responsibility to ensure that the

02:23 people shall be protected from false and malicious information.

02:28 This is not an attack on the freedom of the press.

02:32 Rather, we are defending the right of the people to have an accurate and true reporting

02:38 so that they can formulate honest opinions and thus contribute positively to society.

02:46 So with that, Mr. Chair, I am introducing this resolution and urge the National Telecommunications

02:53 Commission to suspend the operations of Suara Sub Corporation.

02:57 Thank you.

02:58 During the nalabas naman po natin ng mga violations which we raised earlier this whole time, and

03:04 yun naman po yung grounds na nalabas, I accept the amendments to the resolution.

03:09 There's a motion to amend.

03:11 By addition, by the Honorable Gutierrez, subject to style, seconded by the Honorable Ako, the

03:17 chairing objections, amendment is approved.

03:20 I move the motion to adopt, to re-second it, the chairing objection.

03:27 The resolution is hereby adopted.

03:28 Thank you.

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