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Vivienne Gulla

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<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously approved a bill seeking to revoke the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation with business name Sonshine Media Network International. House handout photo" src="https://news-workbench-api.abs-cbn.com/api/upload-raw/20240312140312/033b03e47a4cefee83eeacffc41b9b439f6d4f75830d4a7c2d5ac7e0205dd668.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><figcaption>The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously approved a bill seeking to revoke the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation with business name Sonshine Media Network International. <em>House handout photo</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><strong>House committee cites Quiboloy in contempt </strong></div><p>MANILA -- The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously approved on Tuesday a measure seeking to revoke the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation with business name Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).</p><p>Surigao del Sur 2nd District Representative Johnny Pimentel moved to approve House Bill 9710 authored by 1-RIDER Party List Rep. Ramon Gutierrez, citing alleged franchise violations committed by SMNI, including the alleged airing of fake news and red-tagging. </p><p>Pimentel also claimed the provisions requiring prior approval from Congress for transfer of controlling interest, and mandating the public offer of at least 30 percent of the company’s outstanding stock, were violated.</p><p>SMNI denied these allegations.</p><p>“Of the six hearings that we have conducted, this committee was able establish violations of Swara Sug to their franchise… This committee has found sufficient grounds to revoke their franchise,” Pimentel said.</p><p>“What is controlling interest is 50 percent plus, what was transferred was only 46%... There is no need to seek prior approval ng Congress. Number 2, fake news daw. ‘Yung words na dapat bantayan natin willful dissemination, deliberate dissemination. Wala namang ganoon, humingi na nga ng pasensya eh,” SMNI lawyer Atty. Rolex Suplico told the media.</p><p>The bill, to be enacted, will still have to get the nod of the House plenary and the Senate on final reading, and avoid a veto from the President.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/12/senate-issues-show-cause-order-vs-quiboloy-1913" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Senate issues show cause order vs. Quiboloy</a></div><p>“We are still very optimistic na hanggang dito lang ‘yan. We are very optimistic na hindi ma-a-approve ‘yan sa Senado,” SMNI lawyer Atty. Mark Tolentino said.</p><p>During the hearing, some congressmen also questioned the appointment of former President Rodrigo Duterte as property administrator of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, the religious group led by his spiritual adviser, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.</p><p>&quot;Task ng executive pastor, acting as corporation sole, ang ‘pag administer ng properties ng KOJC. Pero ang nangyari ngayon mula sa executive pastor na wala namang kinasasangkutang issue ngayon ay nalipat ang task niya sa dating pangulo. That brings more questions rather than answers sa komite,” Kabataan Party List Rep. Raoul Manuel said.</p><p>“The scope of the appointment of former President, PRRD, was only in case of incapacity, disability, retirement, and other  inability of the executive pastor and board of administrators. The appointment was made by the current executive pastor and the board of administrators that in case something might happen, the former president PRRD will be able to manage the properties of the KOJC,” Kingdom of Jesus Christ lawyer Atty. Eunice Ambrocio explained.</p><p>“I am wondering lang bakit mas may edad ang mag-take over?” Quezon City 3rd District Representative Franz Pumaren asked.</p><p>“Si PRRD, taas ang kanyang experience, abogado siya at malapit na kaibigan sa ministry. Hindi siya member ng ministry but ‘yung kanyang respeto at stand sa ministry is more than a member,” Tolentino told the panel, translating the statement of Pastor Marlon Acobo.</p><p>ACT Teachers Party List Rep. France Castro said she plans to ask the committee to also invite former Duterte to the House panel hearing.</p><div><strong>CONTEMPT</strong></div><p>Quiboloy, who is said to be SMNI’s honorary chairman, was again a no-show at the House panel hearing on Tuesday, prompting the committee to cite him in contempt.</p><p>His lawyer said the televangelist has not been involved in the day-to-day operations of the broadcast network for around four years, and instead brought with him three individuals who, he said, may be in better position to respond to lawmakers’ queries.</p><p>“Why does the good pastor refuse to come?” Quezon 2nd District Representative David “Jay-Jay” Suarez asked.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/11/house-lawmakers-urge-quiboloy-to-face-smni-probe-1523" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">House lawmakers urge Quiboloy to face SMNI probe</a></div><p>“He is apprehensive that his rights may not be respected coz of the frenzy surrounding the investigation,” Quiboloy’s general counsel, Atty. Ferdinand Topacio, replied.</p><p>“Pastor Quiboloy for around four years now has had no hand in the running of SMNI… to show our good faith and our due respect to this honorable committee and to show that we are not evading subpoena, we have brought three persons, who are active in the affairs of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ,” he added.</p><p>&quot;The fact that he has not been appearing in these hearings… just shows he has no respect for this committee. It just shows that he acts like God, he acts with impunity, he takes this hearing for granted,” Pimentel said.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/7/us-judge-orders-unsealing-of-quiboloy-arrest-warrant-indictment-1733" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">US judge orders unsealing of Quiboloy arrest warrant, indictment</a></div><p>The committee ordered the House Sergeant-at-Arms to coordinate with the Philippine National Police and other law enforcement agencies to bring Quiboloy to the House of Representatives.</p><p>Quiboloy’s lawyer appealed that the order be implemented on Friday, after he advises his client on the matter on Wednesday. Topacio assured the panel that his client is still in the Philippines. The committee agreed.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/L7qaoyB_9F8?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

<p>The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously approved on Tuesday a measure seeking to revoke the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation with business name Sonshine Media Network International.</p>

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises unanimously approved on Tuesday a measure seeking to revoke the franchise granted to Swara Sug Media Corporation with business name Sonshine Media Network International.

House panel OKs bill seeking to revoke SMNI’s franchise, cites Quiboloy in contempt

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House panel OKs bill seeking to revoke SMNI’s franchise, cites Quiboloy in contempt

Vivienne Gulla,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 12, 2024 10:16 PM PHT

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House of Representatives

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