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Appeal for SMNI 14-day suspension
By Cynthia Montojo
“That is actually subsequent punishment and that already exceeds power of MTRCB..it is not board of censor… only classification board and of course, suspension order was done because host asked question…you can issue preventive suspension if you ask question,” Former presidential spokesman Harry Roque backed decision of SMNI to file appeal.
Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) is expected to file motion for reconsideration after Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) imposed 14-day preventive suspension order on two of its programs feature former president Rodrigo Duterte and former administration official Lorraine Badoy.
SMNI legal officer Mark Tolentino said appeal would be filed “before Christmas.”
“They can appeal it… I hope they appeal it because what is at stake here is freedom of expression and freedom of press,” Roque told media.
MTRCB issued 14-day suspension order on “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa” and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” effective last Monday.
MTRCB said suspension was result of “thorough review and investigation” on supposed violations on show’s aired content.
“If host asks question about issue concerning public interest and as far as former president is concerned, that is president’s style, we are used to it…when he was president, he was never censored using same language,” Roque noted.
MTRCB maintained it was found certain aspects of above-mentioned programs may have violated established guidelines and standards set by Presidential Decree 1986 and its implementing rules and regulations governing broadcasting content.
It added it received multiple complaints regarding alleged death threat made on show “Gikan sa Masa,” but did not directly name Duterte as guest.
SMNI had committed to pre-recording and reviewing episodes, but another complaint on alleged death threats and profane language was filed regarding another episode last month.
“Laban Kasama ang Bayan,” for its part, was suspended over unverified report claiming that Speaker Martin Romualdez has travel funds amounting to P1.8 billion.
Badoy and co-anchor Jeffrey Celiz were recently detained at House of Representatives after they were cited in contempt over unverified report.
Meanwhile, Sen. Francis Tolentino reacted to MTRCB’s decision to suspend two programs of SMNI.
He said he has yet to read decision and could not yet comment on whether it was legally sound.
“If MTRCB will stick to facts and evidence, they may be correct. If you transgress freedom of press and freedom of expression, these are solid constitutional grounds that implicate higher rights,” he said during Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum.
“Freedom of the press occupies higher rank in hierarchy of rights anywhere in the world,” Tolentino said.
Earlier, Tolentino had called for banning of movie “Barbie” for violating Filipino fisherfolks’ rights in West Philippine Sea with map showing China’s invalidated nine-dash line in one of the scenes.
“Rights of our fishermen, that’s not movie,” he said.
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