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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider 'Nothing personal' with passage of bill revoking SMNI franchise, says Romualdez 

'Nothing personal' with passage of bill revoking SMNI franchise, says Romualdez 

Published Mar 20, 2024 03:21 pm

At A Glance

  • Speaker Martin Romualdez said the House of Representatives was simply doing its job when it passed on third and final reading the proposed bill revoking the franchise of television network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

IMG-a3ea482b22d53a0b310e0231f317a046-V.jpgHouse Speaker Martin Romualdez (PPAB)



It's nothing personal.

Speaker Martin Romualdez addressed the proposed revocation of television network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) with these words Wednesday night, March 20 after the measure finally hurdled the House plenary.

"Tinutupad lamang po natin ang mandatong ini-atang sa atin ng Konstitusyon at ng taumbayan. Walang personalan dito. Trabaho lang," the Speaker said in a speech.

(We simply fulfilled the mandate that was given to us by the Constitution and the people. Nothing personal here. We're just doing our job.)

Just minutes before Romualdez delivered his speech, House members voted 284-4-4 (yes-no-abstain) to approve House Bill (HB) No.9710, which sought to take away SMNI’s existing 25-year franchise.

The House leader recalled the circumstances that led to the passage of the measure. It all began when the Committee on Legislative Franchises launched an inquiry on SMNI's alleged franchise violations late last year.

"We have conducted numerous hearings. After persistent non-compliance and absence at the hearings conducted, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises cited Mr. [Apollo] Quiboloy in contempt on March 12, 2024.

"This decisive action underscores our commitment to uphold the integrity of broadcasting standards and the public’s trust," he said.

Pastor Quiboloy, leader of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC) church, is the honorary chairman of SMNI and is believed to be a key person in the management of the network.

"For violating certain terms and conditions granted in its franchise contract embodied in RA 11422 or the law extending the grant of franchise to SMNI, the plenary approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 9710 revoking the franchise of SMNI by 284 members voting in the affirmative.

"This unequivocably affirms that the special privilege of holding a legislative franchise 'constitutes a right and duty to be performed by the grantee', and is contingent upon the fulfillment of legal and ethical obligations to our nation," Romualdez said.

Related Tags

Apollo Quiboloy SMNI Martin Romualdez
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