NTC, MTRCB issue separate suspension orders versus SMNI

This week, both regulatory bodies have issued suspension orders versus the channel.

Today, December 21, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) issued a 30-day broadcast suspension order versus Swara Sug Media Corporation (SSMC) last December 19.

Swara Sug is the entity that owns television network Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) and radio station DZAR 1026 on AM radio.

The telecoms and broadcast regulator also gave a 15-day show cause order to the network to explain why it should not be sanctioned administratively.

The NTC order comes in response to House Resolution No. 1499 passed by the House of Representatives over a week ago.

In the said resolution, the Lower House urged the NTC to suspend SMNI’s broadcast amid alleged violations the station committed against its legislative broadcast franchise, which was passed in 2018.

The NTC has scheduled an administrative hearing to tackle the matter on Thursday, January 4, 2024.

Additionally, the NTC order came days after the Movie and Television Review and Classifciation Board (MTRCB) issued a 14-day suspension order to two SMNI programs after allegedly violating Presidential Decree No. 1986 or the MTRCB’s mandate.

The programs in question are ‘Laban Kasama ng Bayan’ and ‘Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa’.

The former program, hosted by former NTF-ELCAC official Lorraine Badoy, was suspended after it reported that House Speaker Martin Romualdez had a travel fund of Php 1.8 billion.

The HOR’s Secretary General had since denied the allegation last November.

As for the latter show, which features former President Rodrigo Duterte, the suspension was issued following an alleged death threat committed by one of its guests during the airing of the program.

The MTRCB stated that they have issued the order following a “thorough review and investigation.”

Earlier today, the SMNI network said that they will appeal the MTRCB’s program suspension order before Christmas.

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