There's 'big' chance SMNI franchise will be revoked: Pimentel

ABS-CBN News

MANILA — There is a &quot;big&quot; possibility that the broadcast franchise of SMNI News Channel will be revoked, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said Wednesday, citing the outlet&#x27;s alleged violations.&quot;There is a really big possibility [of] revoking,&quot; Pimentel told ANC when asked about the chance that Congress, which has the exclusive authority over media franchises, will cancel SMNI&#x27;s license.The lawmaker said his colleagues passed on Tuesday a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission &quot;to suspend the airing of SMNI.&quot;&quot;It is now up to the National Telecommunications Commission whether they will act on it,&quot; Pimentel noted.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/11/30/23/house-probes-smni-for-romualdez-travel-budget-claims">House probes SMNI for Romualdez travel budget claims</a></li></ul>He added that there is already a bill that is being passed to revoke the franchise of SMNI.&quot;Based on the two hearings I attended we have evidence proving that they violated several sections of their franchise and it is a ground we have every reason to revoke the franchise,&quot; he said.SMNI, a media company allied with former President Rodrigo Duterte, is facing a congressional inquiry for allegedly spreading lies about House Speaker Martin Romualdez&#x27;s travel expenses, which allegedly reached P1.8 billion in just one year.Pimentel said SMNI is also facing complaints for red-tagging personalities including former Vice-President Leni Robredo.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/video/news/12/05/23/house-panel-cites-smnis-celiz-badoy-in-contempt">House panel cites SMNI’s Celiz, Badoy in contempt</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/04/23/lawmaker-seeks-suspension-of-smni-operations">House panel set to tackle suspension of SMNI operations</a></li></ul>

There is a 'big' possibility that the franchise of SMNI will be revoked, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said, citing the outlet's alleged violations.

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There's 'big' chance SMNI franchise will be revoked: Pimentel

There's 'big' chance SMNI franchise will be revoked: Pimentel

ABS-CBN News

Published Dec 06, 2023 11:40 AM PHT

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Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel

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