House releases SMNI program hosts Celiz, Badoy

The House Committee on Legislative Franchises released Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) program hosts Eric Celiz and Lorraine Badoy from their detention at the Batasang Pambansa on Tuesday night.

House Committee on Legislative Franchises Chairperson Gus Tambunting of Parañaque had earlier signed off on the release order on humanitarian grounds.

“Ang kalayaan ang pinanindigan, ipinaglalaban, hindi ito ibinibigay,” Celiz said, who earlier sent a letter to Tambunting seeking a furlough by citing his mother's deteriorating health.

(Freedom is something you stand up for... something you fight for. It is not given.)

The two were earlier cited for contempt over unresponsive, if not disrespectful answers, to lawmakers’ questions during a congressional inquiry involving SMNI’s broadcast in which Celiz and Badoy said Speaker Martin Romualdez had a P1.8 billion worth of travel fund.

Celiz has since said that his source was wrong.

Upon release, Celiz said he was merely asking a question about the alleged fund.

“Ang pagtatanong ko po sa P1.8 billion ay hindi po fake news. Hindi po dapat hinatulan iyon. Hindi po dapat kami kinulong,” he said.

(My questioning is not fake news. It should not have been judged. We should not have been detained.)

“Dapat po kami ay sinagot ng maayos,” he added.

(They should have responded to us properly.)

During the inquiry, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco said the House of Representatives fund for official business travel this year based on financial records, was P39 million.

Given Velasco's testimony, Celiz said that his source was wrong, and he was willing to apologize.

“Trabaho po namin na kilalanin ang pagkakamali. I am very much willing to admit that indeed, the source was wrong, with guidance by the data. I am ready to personally apologize to the Speaker,” Celiz said. — DVM, GMA Integrated News