The House of Representatives on Wednesday, March 13, approved on second reading the bill seeking to revoke the legislative franchise of Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) due to alleged multiple violations.
House Bill (HB) 9710 was approved on second reading without interpolations and amendments from House lawmakers.
Just in > HB 9710 o revocation ng franchise ng Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) na nag-o-operate sa business name na Swara Sug Media Corporation, pasado na sa 2nd reading ng Kamara @dzrhnews
— milky rigonan 💋 (@milkyrigonan) March 13, 2024
House Committee on Legislative Franchises chairperson and Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting sponsored HB 9710.
In his sponsorship speech, Tambunting said his committee found that SMNI, whose legal operating name is Swara Sug Media Corporation, infringed Sections 4, 7, and 12 of Republic Act 11422 or An Act Granting the Swara Sug Media Corporation of the Philippines a Franchise.
"During the course of six hearings spanning five months, the committee also discovered that SMNI committed grave violations of the terms of the franchise. Therefore, warranting its revocation," he said.
According to the lawmaker, SMNI violated Section 4 and Section 7 of RA 11422 "through the blatant red-tagging, fake news peddling."
The broadcast media also violated Section 12 of RA 1142 "when changes of ownership were not reported to Congress."
"When the franchisee failed to comply with the dispersal of ownership requirement and failed to comply with the reportorial requirement for almost three decades. Therefore, on behalf of the Committee on Franchises, we respectfully submit the approval of House Bill No. 9710," he said.
The House Committee on Legislative Franchises approved HB 9710 on Tuesday, March 12.
