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SMNI Anchor Apologizes For Fake News Against House Speaker
Photo credit: Congress PH
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises, led by Parañaque City 2nd district Representative Gus Tambunting, conducted a rigorous inquiry on Thursday into the alleged fake news peddling and franchise violations of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Chairman Tambunting emphasized that the investigation aims to assess whether SMNI aligns with the ethical standards of broadcast media and underscored the Committee's oversight function.
Deputy Majority Leader David “Jay-jay” Suarez prompted the inquiry, citing a malicious statement by an SMNI anchor against Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the House.
During the hearing, SMNI anchor Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz acknowledged the error in mentioning, without verification, that Speaker Romualdez and his entourage incurred P1.8-billion in foreign travel expenses.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco clarified that the actual foreign travel budget for the Office of the Speaker from January to October 2023 is only P4.3-million, significantly lower than the amount asserted by the SMNI anchor.
Key stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRB), Commission on Audit (COA), and Movement against Disinformation (MAD), participated in the hearing. SMNI President Marlon Rosete and Celiz’s program co-anchor, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, were also present.
Chairman Tambunting emphasized that the investigation aims to assess whether SMNI aligns with the ethical standards of broadcast media and underscored the Committee's oversight function.
Deputy Majority Leader David “Jay-jay” Suarez prompted the inquiry, citing a malicious statement by an SMNI anchor against Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and the House.
During the hearing, SMNI anchor Jeffrey “Ka Eric” Celiz acknowledged the error in mentioning, without verification, that Speaker Romualdez and his entourage incurred P1.8-billion in foreign travel expenses.
House Secretary General Reginald Velasco clarified that the actual foreign travel budget for the Office of the Speaker from January to October 2023 is only P4.3-million, significantly lower than the amount asserted by the SMNI anchor.
Key stakeholders, including the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRB), Commission on Audit (COA), and Movement against Disinformation (MAD), participated in the hearing. SMNI President Marlon Rosete and Celiz’s program co-anchor, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, were also present.
Dec 2, 2023
