00:00 A resolution calling for the suspension of the operation of the SMNI has been passed in the House of Representatives.
00:07 Yesterday, it was approved by the committee level,
00:10 where, upon hearing that the two hosts were still in contempt,
00:15 Mela Lasmora was the one who was informed.
00:18 A resolution calling for the suspension of the operation of the SMNI
00:25 was called by the National Telecommunications Commission
00:30 to suspend the operation of Sunshine Media Network International or SMNI
00:33 due to the recent violations.
00:35 The SMNI operates under the franchise
00:38 that was given by the Congress to Suarez Submedia Corporation in August 2019.
00:44 Upon hearing the committee yesterday,
00:46 the committee chair approved the motion
00:49 to strengthen House Resolution No. 1499
00:52 regarding the violations of the SMNI under its franchise,
00:56 particularly the dissemination of false information and red tagging.
01:01 According to House Assistant Majority Leader Meeks Nugrales,
01:05 who has a right to a resolution,
01:07 the SMNI was forced to fulfill the conditions
01:10 given by the Congress to protect the public's interest.
01:16 Before this, the two SMNI anchors,
01:19 Jeffery Celis and former Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy,
01:22 were allowed to speak in the committee
01:25 because they did not respond correctly to the violations
01:28 and the concealment of information.
01:31 Because of this, the two are now detained under the National Law
01:35 and will remain in custody until the committee report
01:38 on the issue being investigated is approved in the plenary.
01:43 He was allowed to speak.
01:44 Four times you asked the question.
01:47 The Honorable Suarez asked the question.
01:49 Four times he refused to reply.
01:54 And we even, the Honorable Chanco,
01:57 even afforded him an executive session.
02:00 And again, he refused.
02:04 So, obviously, he will refuse to answer any question
02:10 that the Honorable Suarez will ask.
02:13 And he will always cite a law which is unacceptable to this committee
02:17 because it is not the intent of that law.
02:24 He cannot hide under that law.
02:27 The investigation was initiated when the SMNI released
02:31 that the House Speaker Martin Romualdez
02:34 had a 1.8 billion pesos travel fund
02:36 which was first lied to by the camera.
02:39 Other issues that the company is responsible for were also initiated
02:42 and the Congressmen reminded them
02:45 that as a TV network, they have a big responsibility
02:48 in delivering the right information to the public
02:51 and they should take care of it.
02:54 The SMNI also defended their claim
02:57 while the camera continued to cooperate.
03:01 Melales Moras for the nation.
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