Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday, Dec. 19, slammed the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) for suspending two programs of the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Interviewed during DZRH Balansyado, Roque argued that the suspension was a form of censorship and a violation of freedom of speech.
"Well para sa akin, iyan ay paglabag na sa malayang pananalita dahil pinipigil. That is prior restraint. Kung dadalhin sa hukuman iyan, meron very heavy presumption of unconstitutionality," he said.
Former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque sa suspension ng dalawang programa ng SMNI: Ang sabi ng Korte Suprema ay ang MTRCB ay hindi board of censors kasi ang censorship ay ipinagbabawal ng Saligang Batas#Balansyado#SamaSamaTayoPilipino
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) December 19, 2023
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The MTRCB announced through a statement that it suspended SMNI's "Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa" hosted by former President Rodrigo Duterte, and "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" hosted by Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz for 14 days due to alleged complaints.
The suspension took effect last Dec. 18 and it is expected to end on Jan. 1, 2024.
Citing a Supreme Court ruling, the former Presidential Spokesperson stated that MTRCB's mandate is to regulate and classify movies and programs aired on television.
"Ang pwede lang gawin ng 'board of censors', napakaraming kaso nito, ay magbigay lang ng classification kung sinong pwedeng manood ng isang program, classification na parental guidance, mga ganon. Pero bawal ang censorship kasi ito ay prior restrain [...] Hindi sila censorship board," Roque said.
"Pero alam ko na nagpapataw sila ng suspension sa pagkakataon siguro na may malaswa na hindi dapat makita ng bata. Pero dapat iyan sa konteksto rin, dapat malaman nila na ang kapangyarihan na ito ay hindi dapat ginagawa basta-basta na lamang dahil napaka-importante ng malayang pamamahayag," he continued.
The former Presidential Spokesperson believes that the MTRCB is pressing the SMNI, especially Duterte.
"Ang issue ngayon ay ginigipit nila ang mga Duterte. Ginigipit nila ang SMNI dahil sa tingin nila ay nagagamit na platform ng mga Duterte. Kaya ngayon, ang usapin ay ire-revoke ang mga prangkisa. Nais talagan nila supilin ang mga Duterte. Ayun ang tingin ko," Roque said.
Last Dec. 11, 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez filed House Bill No. 9710 proposing to revoke SMNI's legislative franchise due to alleged multiple violations.
On the same day, the House Committee on Legislative Franchises adopted House Resolution No. 1499 which urges the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend SMNI's legislative franchise due to alleged violations in its franchise's terms and conditions and several codes of the Kapisanan ng Broadkaster ng Pilipinas.
