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Who voted 'no' to SMNI franchise revocation bill?

Philippines | National

Who voted 'no' to SMNI franchise revocation bill?

By Ellson Quismorio

At A Glance

Sources said that Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, and Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema all voted "no" to House Bill (HB) No.9710, which sought to revoke SMNI's franchise.

Clockwise: Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo, Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema

A former president, two solons closely linked to the previous Duterte administration, and a veteran party-list solon.

These were the personalities who entered the four negative votes Wednesday, March 20 against the House bill that sought to revoke controversial television network SMNI's existing 25-year franchise.

Sources identified the quartet as Pampanga 2nd district Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Davao City 1st district Rep. Paolo Duterte, Duterte Youth Party-list Rep. Drixie Mae Cardema, and Kabayan Party-list Rep. Ron Salo.

Arroyo, chairperson emeritus of dominant party Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), served as Philippine president from 2001 to 2010. She is also a former Speaker.

Rep. Duterte, a second-termer in the House of Representatives, is the solon of former president Rodrigo Duterte. The Dutertes are known to be close with Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, the honorary chairman of SMNI.

Cardema belongs to Duterte Youth, a party-list that gained traction during the Palace term of the elder Duterte from 2016 to 2022.

Salo is currently the chairman of the House Committee on Overseas Workers Affairs.

On Wednesday night, during plenary session, congressmen voted 284-4-4 (yes-no-abstain) in favor of passing House Bill (HB) No.9710 or the SMNI franchise revocation bill on third and final reading. The measure was subsequently transmitted to the Senate.

Arroyo, Rep. Duterte, Cardema, and Salo didn't explain their "no" votes during the session.

Related Tags

gloria macapagal-arroyo Apollo Quiboloy SMNI Rodrigo Duterte

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