Former chief presidential legal counsel Salvador Panelo on Thursday, Dec. 21, said the National Telecommunication Commission (NTC) committed a “brazen display of grave abuse of regulatory power” when it issued a show cause order with a 30-day suspension order against Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).
Interviewed during DZRH Balansyado, Panelo, who hosts SMNI’s “Problema n'yo Itawag kay Panelo”, pointed out that NTC did not give SMNI due process as it was suspended without any hearing.
“What the National Telecommunications [Commission] has done is a brazen display of grave abuse of regulatory power. Walang due process, walang hearing. It started only with a suggestion ng isang kongresista na imbestigahan ang umano'y violation,” he said.
“Kung meron akusasyon, you have to hear. Ang ginawa nila ay sinuspend nila, hindi pa nagsisimula yung investigation. Mas masahol pa tayo sa diktadura. At least, kahit nung panahon ng Diktadura, yung tinatawag nila na Diktadura ni Marcos, meron hearing,” Panelo continued.
The former chief presidential legal counsel said the suspension was also a violation of freedom of the press and freedom of expression.
On Thursday afternoon, the NTC issued a press statement announcing that both SMNI's radio and television stations would be suspended for 30 days due to an alleged violation of its legislative franchise.
The broadcast media was given 15 days to explain why it "should not be administratively sanctioned."
The suspension came after the filing of a House resolution calling on the NTC to suspend SMNI’s legislative franchise and the House bill proposing to revoke the latter’s franchise.
The two lawmakers who authored the resolution and bill had argued that SMNI failed to adhere with its franchise's terms and conditions.
Panelo believes that politics was involved in the NTC’s decision, saying that there “is an unseen hand in the conspiracy against” former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Vice President Sara Duterte.
Rodrigo is the host of the "Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa" — a now suspended program that once stirred controversies with the House of Representatives.
“Simple lang iyan eh. ‘Yung kanyang anak [Sara] ay ang perceived leading Presidential candidate for 2028 and then, yung liderato naman sa Congress perceived to be wanting to run. Kaya this early, gibain mo iyan kasi napaka-lakas ng Duterte,” he said.
“Kailangan we have to destroy. So kapag gigibain mo si Inday Sara, gigibain mo rin ang kanyang ama. So para gibain mo ang kanyang ama, tanggalan mo ng platform. Ang platform niya ngayon ay ang SMNI. Oh kailangan mo rin gibain ang SMNI,” Panelo added.
The former chief presidential legal counsel then called on President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to intervene in the issue.
“Mr. President, I call your attention. These are agencies under the Executive Department which you head. Tatamaan kayo dito. Mali ang ginagawa ng mga nasa baba,” he stressed.
