House lawmaker comments on SMNI suspension

The Manila Times

House lawmaker comments on SMNI suspension  Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Margarita Ignacia Nograles answers queries on the previous hearing on press freedom by Sen. Robinhood Padilla, where he said that the suspension of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) violated press freedom. The network's franchise was suspended due to alleged franchise violations.  Nograles also implored those who call for the resignation of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to 'air their grievance' in a peaceful manner.   Video by Red Mendoza  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook   Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram   Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter   DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion     Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital     Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify   Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts   Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic   Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #themanilatimes  #philippines #smni #media

Transcript

00:00 I heard from Senator Robyn that the suspension of SMNI has a chilling effect according to the KDPD.

00:13 What do you think about this?

00:14 Chilling effect? Why?

00:16 Why does it have a chilling effect?

00:18 Because they are saying that it's a press freedom issue. It's like they are being pushed.

00:31 It's one thing that press freedom is part of the constitution. We respect that.

00:37 We studied this. Again, this happened because I'm not the only one who has a decision. In the decision of the house, we looked at it.

00:47 It's one thing for you as part of the press to be free to give the truth, accurate news.

00:57 It's another thing also not to follow rules and your franchise and how you deliver the news.

01:04 These aspects, I saw that there are violations in the franchise.

01:09 It's not just the sole freedom of the press, inhibition of the freedom of the press. There are many violations in the franchise.

01:17 You are saying that it's a violation of the press of SMNI's freedom.

01:24 Maybe...

01:26 It's you against Senator Robyn's family.

01:30 Me? Me against him?

01:32 I'm not just one vote in the Congress.

01:36 But maybe, if that's the case, what's his stance on the ABS-CBN close down?

01:42 Maybe he could answer that. Is that also the violation of press freedom?

01:48 Let's not single out this because it looks like there's a politician involved.

01:53 We've discussed this. This is done. We've seen the violations.

01:58 So let's not single out. This is not the first time that a franchise has been closed down.

02:06 Let's be different. What about the calls of pro-China groups, no to war coalition, calling for the resignation of the President and the President?

02:20 Let's respect their own opinions and all.

02:24 I hope they will not engage in violence.

02:29 Anyone is entitled to their own opinions, what they want, what they think about things.

02:35 We're not a dictator who should do this.

02:40 But it will be a violation of law now if you become violent and there are aspects that will happen because you believe in something and you're already going to be violating the rules.

02:52 So let's not violate the rules. I hope it won't be violent.

02:57 And again, this aspect, I hope we will be united.

03:04 Because we have so many problems that we need to fix and look at.

03:09 It's better if we are united than to fight each other.

03:13 On social media, we have focused so much on our protecting in the West Philippines that we have forgotten the basic needs, like raising the price of food and clothing.

03:30 We are focusing too much on trilateral agreements in the West Philippines. What do you say to that?

03:38 Well, you said social media, right? On social media, again, as I said earlier, look at the committee investigations.

03:48 That's not the only issue in the House. We are looking, earlier this morning, I think it's still ongoing in the Agricultural Committee.

03:56 We are looking at the gap in farm gate prices and retail prices of rice, other commodities.

04:05 We are looking at the cybercrime. The Congress is looking at so many things.

04:09 So again, let's not focus on social media only.

04:15 Because there are deepfakes, there are those that are spliced, those are not the whole thing.

04:20 Let's look at what really happened in the past month.

04:25 And Congress is providing that transparency for the people to know what is really going on and not the splices to misinform people.

04:35 Thank you. Thank you.

04:38 Thank you.

04:40 Thank you.

04:43 Thank you.

04:45 Thank you.

04:47 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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