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The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a measure seeking the franchise revocation of controversial network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Embodied in House Bill (HB) No. 9710, the measure was approved during the plenary session on Wednesday, March 20, which is the final session day before the Holy Week break.

The bill, which seeks to terminate SMNI’s franchise as bestowed on its official name, Swara Sug Media Corporation, garnered 284 affirmative votes during nominal voting.

Four House members voted in the negative, while there were four abstentions.

HB No. 9710 is authored by 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez, an assistant minority leader.

The title of the bill reads, “An Act revoking the legislative franchises granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation, operating under the business name Sonshine Media Network International, repealing for the purpose Republic Act No. 11422, titled 'An Act renewing for another 25 years the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation.'"

In the explanation of her affirmative vote, Makabayan bloc member and ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro said that SMNI has consistently produced inaccurate information, otherwise known as “fake news”.

“Malayong-malayo sa mga tunay na media na vine-verify muna ang kanilang mga impormasyon at sources bago nila ilathala o iere,” Castro said on the floor.

(They are far from the real media that verify their information and sources first before they publish or air.)

“Ang SMNI ay hindi isang media at hindi dapat ihalintulad sa mga tunay na media,” she noted. “Para itong isang insulto sa marangal na propesyon ng mga tunay na midya at media practitioners.”

(SMNI is not media and should not be compared to legitimate media.) (This seems like an insult to the noble profession of the legitimate media and media practitioners.)

The network is closely linked to the controversial leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, who is SMNI’s honorary chairman.

During the four month-long probe of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises on SMNI, the panel found at least four violations in the provisions of Republic Act (RA) No. 11422, or the law granting the franchise of SMNI.

In particular, SMNI was found to neglect its responsibility to truthful and accurate broadcasting by its dissemination of “fake news”, failure to obtain the permission of Congress before any change in ownership, omitting the required dispersal of 30 percent of its shares of stock to the public, in addition to the reportorial requirement.