Broadcast company Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) on Thursday filed pleadings before the National Telcommunications Commission (NTC) and the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) following the suspension of its two programs.
It can be recalled that the NTC issued a show cause order and announced the suspension of SMNI for 30 days in response to a House of Representatives resolution calling on the regulator to act on allegations involving House Speaker Martin Romualdez aired on SMNI last December 19.
On Thursday, SMNI lawyers Mark Tolentino and Rolex Suplico filed before the NTC a motion for Bill of Particulars wherein they questioned the commission's order, noting how it "did not specify the violations, by the respondent, of its Certificate of Public Convenience."
"As such the respondent cannot intelligently file a responsive pleading without first being informed of the charges against it, particularly its violation of its Certificate of Public Convenience," the motion read.
MTRCB motion
Prior to the NTC suspension, the MTRCB also suspended two SMNI programs — "Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa" hosted by former president Rodrigo Duterte and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan" hosted by former government anti-communist task force spokesperson Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz — for 14 days starting Dec. 18, 2023.
The MTRCB issued on January 3 a decision that found that SMNI violated Presidential Decree 1986 and its Implementing Rules and Regulation, imposing a penalty suspension of 28 days.
Due to this, SMNI filed two motions for reconsideration for both shows before the MTRCB.
The MTRCB acknowledged SMNI's motions for reconsideration, saying the network has a right to file such.
"We will thoroughly review SMNI's motion for reconsideration in strict accordance with our functions and responsibilities as mandated by Presidential Decree," the MTRCB said in a statement.
