Lawmaker to Quiboloy: Show up at House hearing

REP. Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez of the party-list 1-Rider called on Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to attend the House of Representatives’ hearing on the proposal to revoke the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Gutierrez, author of House Bill 9710, which seeks the franchise’s revocation, said in a press conference on Monday that Quiboloy needs to attend the hearing.

“This would be the best opportunity to explain his side,” Gutierrez said.

In the hearing on February 7, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises was told that Quiboloy was SMNI’s honorary chairman and was not part of its operations.

His lawyers wrote to Parañaque 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting, the chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises, saying that Quiboloy did not have “the specific details or documents that your Honorable Committee would ask from him.”

They said that Quiboloy “has not been involved in the management and operations of SMNI since the last quarter of 2018, and, in fact, was therefore definitely no longer such when the franchise of SMNI was renewed” in 2019.

The House had issued a subpoena directing him to appear before the committee “to testify under oath” on March 12.

House Deputy Speaker and Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez said that “Pastor Quiboloy has to respect the legislative process of Congress. He was invited and he was asked to present himself so that he can clarify issues ...”

SMNI suspension probe

Meanwhile, Sen. Robinhood Padilla on Monday filed a resolution seeking a Senate inquiry into the indefinite suspension of SMNI in December 2023.

In Senate Resolution 960, Padilla wanted the Senate Committee on Public Information and

Mass Media, which he chairs, to handle the investigation “in aid of legislation.”

“The imposition of baseless suspension orders on SMNI not only constitutes a denial of due process but also an erosion of press freedom,” he said in his resolution.

Padilla maintained that the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) “failed to indicate the need to suspend the operations of SMNI, much more express how this is necessary to avoid serious and irreparable damage or inconvenience to the public or private interests.”

He added that the right of the people to public information “should not be unduly curtailed” because access to information on matters of public concern will help people by giving them a better perspective on vital issues.

The NTC suspended the radio and TV channels of SMNI for allegedly breaking the terms and conditions of its legislative franchise.