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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Luzon devider Duterte eyes one-on-one talk with PBBM over SMNI

Duterte eyes one-on-one talk with PBBM over SMNI

Published Jan 7, 2024 08:09 am

DAVAO CITY – Former President Rodrigo R. Duterte said on Saturday night that he wants to talk to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. regarding the investigation on Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) where his program “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” is being aired.

DUTERTE SMNI.jpg

DUTERTE (Keith Bacongco)

“My Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa is also affected by what happened to the SMNI. I’ll include mine because that’s important to me. I don’t want to confront the President directly, but I want to talk to him indirectly about why it happened that way,” Duterte said in a press conference here.

Last month, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) suspended Swara Sug Media Corp., with the trade name SMNI, for 30 days for allegedly violating its franchise terms and conditions under Republic Act 11422.

The NTC also directed the closure of the SMNI last month due to a controversy involving two of its commentators who questioned a public matter related to the P1.8-billion travel expense budget of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Duterte said the NTC has not come up with an allegation or charge of wrongdoing. He added that he needs to understand why the NTC ordered the network shutdown when SMNI has always been cautious on their job.

The former President said he is uncertain if he deviated from the courteous path, but he cannot recall criticizing anyone in the government. He added that he is tough on crimes, but historically, it has always been a suggestion for him regarding government failures and errors.

“My only concern is to help my friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy. I don’t understand why it becomes like this. I haven’t done anything wrong either,” Duterte said.

He also clarified that Quiboloy did not ask him to interfere and that if the pastor had spoken to him, he had entered the scene earlier.

Quiboloy, the honorary chairman of the SMNI, is Duterte’s spiritual adviser. He is currently facing multiple charges in the United States following the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation of an alleged labor trafficking scheme.

Duterte said he is just biding his time, but one of these days, he has to come up with a statement, not necessarily defending the pastor but just saying instead the way things are which could mean anybody. He added that the NTC and the SMNI must do something to address their concerns.

The SMNI submitted last week a motion requesting Commissioner Ella Blanca Lopez and her deputies at the NTC to inhibit themselves from overseeing the case against the media company on the grounds of unfair bias.
 

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President Duterte SMNI Gikan sa Masa Para sa Masa Davao City President Marcos
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