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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Is SMNI in trouble for airing false report on Speaker's travel expenses? 

Is SMNI in trouble for airing false report on Speaker's travel expenses? 

Published Dec 1, 2023 03:57 pm

At A Glance

  • If statements from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) are anything to go by, then television network SMNI could be in deep trouble. 

FB_IMG_1701397033064.jpgJeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz (left) and Lorraine Badoy (Facebook)

 

 

 

 

 

 

If statements from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) and the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) are anything to go by, then television network SMNI could be in deep trouble. 

SMNI was the focal point of a House Committee on Legislative Franchise hearing Thursday, Nov. 30, which Quezon 2nd district Rep. David "Jay-jay" Suarez sought after hearing an allegation from the network's daily program,"Laban Kasama Ang Bayan", that House Speaker Martin Romualdez spent a whopping P1.8 billion in his travels. 

This claim would be debunked when program anchors Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz and Lorraine Badoy were confronted with figures from the House's financial department saying that the Office of the Speaker's travel expenses from January to October 2023 only amount to P4.3 million. 

Celiz would apologize to Romualdez and the House in the middle of the hearing for spreading what was essentially fake news. 

Also attending the proceedings were NTC Deputy Commissioner Alvin Blanco and KBP Vice President for Legal and Regulatory Compliance Group Rudolph Jularbal. 

Asked to comment on the matter in the context of the legislative franchises hearing, Blanco said: “There appears to be infractions, Mr. Chair, on certain provisions of the franchise, particularly the reference provision on Section 4 on the responsibility of the franchisee not to use the station or its facilities for the dissemination of willful or false information.” 

Blanco was referring to the provision in Republic Act (RA) No.11422, which granted a 25-year franchise renewal to SMNI, legally operating as Swara Sug Media Corporation of the Philippines. 

The congressional franchise was enacted in August 2019. 

An attached agency of the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), NTC serves as the regulator and principal authority for telecommunication services in the country. Its mandate includes the regulation and supervision of radio and TV broadcast stations, cable television, and pay TV. 

ALSO READ: 

https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/1/p100-000-monthly-salary-for-smni-anchors-who-reported-fake-news-vs-romualdez

 

Committee Chairman Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting made it clear during the hearing that a legislative franchise wasn't a right but a privilege, meaning it can be taken away. 

Meanwhile, Jularbal pointed out a possible violation by SMNI for allowing unaccredited announcers, such as Celiz and Badoy, to go on air. 

While confirming the controversial network's KBP accreditation, Jularbal noted that Celiz and Badoy were not accredited as anchors, thus contravening KBP rules. 

Jularbal told the solons that KBP member-networks hold lectures on the code of ethics for anchors and reporters, along with an accreditation exam. 

"Considering the information gathered during this hearing, your honors, I will report to the standards authority of KBP," he said. 

When asked whether or not SMNI adhered to the provisions of the KBP code of conduct, Jularbal replied: “Your Honor, we beg your indulgence, but in the context of what has been presented and of which I am informed this hearing, the network is lacking in observance of the Code of Conduct." 

Jularbal said the KBP is also investigating other complaints against SMNI, specifically regarding fake news and red-tagging.

 

Related Tags

SMNI lorraine badoy Martin Romualdez Jeffrey "Ka Eric" Celiz
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