Quiboloy’s SMNI slapped with admin complaint over Palparan interview

An administrative complaint has been lodged against Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) for airing an interview with convicted kidnapper and retired Army General Jovito Palparan.

The complaint was filed on Wednesday before the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) by Concepcion Empeño and Erlinda Cadapan, the mothers of disappeared University of the Philippines students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and Karapatan secretary general Cristina Palabay.

The complainants demanded the revocation of Swara Sug Media Corporation’s, operating as SMNI, certificate of public convenience and necessity (CPCN)—an authority granted by the NTC necessary to operate broadcasting facilities—for the “violation of its franchise.”

“We are utterly appalled and disturbed that a franchise grantee and/or holder of a CPCN such as SMNI which is tasked with the responsibility of disseminating true and/or accurate information and balance programming, among others, has the temerity to make such broadcasts which are accessible to and watched by the viewing public. Because of these, its viewers and/or the public are led to biased or unreliable information, not to mention deliberate misrepresentation, to the detriment of public interest,” the complainants said in a statement.

The complaints further stated that “[b]y broadcasting the foregoing interview and segment SMNI misused the platform granted by the State or at the very least, allowed, deliberately or otherwise, others to use its facilities to propagate false news or information,” with Palparan’s interview violating provisions of Republic Act No. 11422 as well as the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines.

Sought for his comment on the complaint, SMNI president Marlon Rosete said, “It’s none of your business.”

The controversial retired general was interviewed by Presidential Communications Undersecretary Lorraine Badoy on Quiboloy-led SMNI on March 30, despite his being incarcerated for the kidnapping and serious illegal detention of Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño.

The complainants also argued that the interview violated the Commission on Elections’ Resolution No. 10730 by red-tagging Vice President Leni Robredo. — BM, GMA News