NTC orders SMNI to stop operations anew pending hearing, final decision

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has ordered Swara Sug Media Corporation, which operates Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), to stop its operations pending final decision on its ongoing administrative case.

In a statement on Tuesday, the NTC said it issued an order dated January 18 directing SMNI to “cease and desist from operating its radio and television stations pending hearing and final consideration of the administrative case (Adm. CN 2023-052) pending before the Commission.”

In its order, the telecommunications sector regulator noted that despite the earlier December 19, 2023 order compelling SMNI to suspend its operations for 30 days — which the network received on December 21, 2023 – it still “received reports showing that Respondent did not strictly comply with the suspension aspect thereof and was still operating in certain areas in Region VI by as late as 27 December 2023.”

Sought for comment, SMNI legal counsel Atty. Mark Tolentino said the network received the order on Monday afternoon.

“'Di kami makapaniwala sa order na ‘yun kasi walang legal basis ‘yun (We can’t believe that order was issued, since it has no legal basis). We will study all possible legal remedies, including filing a motion for reconsideration,” Tolentino told GMA News Online.

The NTC, meanwhile, said the latest order was issued pursuant to Section 4, Rule 10 of The 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure before the National Telecommunications Commission, “which allows the NTC to motu proprio issue a cease-and-desist order against any respondent pending hearing and final consideration in order to protect the interest and welfare of the public.”

In its latest order, the agency said SMNI was given until January 15, 2024 to file its answer during the January 4, 2024 administrative hearing.

“Instead of filing any Answer, on 11 January 2024, Respondent filed a Motion for Bill of Particulars, which the Commission denied on 16 January 2024,” the NTC said.

The order also cited that SMNI moved to inhibit all three sitting commissioners from further proceeding in the case instead of directly addressing the allegations against it.

“The NTC had already denied said motion to inhibit in a separate Order dated 17 January 2024 due to utter lack of merit,” the telecommunications regulator said.

With this, the NTC has directed SMNI to explain in writing within 15 days from receipt of the latest order why it failed to strictly comply with the 30-day suspension order, and directed it to cease and desist from operating its radio and television stations pending hearing and final consideration of the administrative case. —KG, GMA Integrated News