House questions SMNI’s China TV partnership

MANILA, Philippines — A House panel yesterday questioned the partnership of broadcasting company Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) with state-run Chinese Global TV Network (CGTN), citing the dispute over the West Philippine Sea (WPS).

Navotas City Rep. Toby Tiangco raised this during yesterday’s continuation of the hearing of the House committee on legislative franchises on the alleged involvement of SMNI in spreading disinformation.

“This is very dangerous if a franchise holder has a cooperation or collaboration with the Chinese government state-owned China media network, which we all know that (the information) China has been releasing especially on WPS are pure lies,” he said.

“What is the effect of this... on those given the franchise by Congress?” Tiangco noted.

SMNI legal counsel Mark Tolentino clarified the agreement is only for the SMNI Foundation and Chinese embassy “with respect to the basketball court in Davao City and Leyte.”

Tolentino added that with regard to the partnership between SMNI and CGTN, “there is no written agreement yet” as it is still in the process of negotiation.

Christina San Pedro, of SMNI Operation, said the agreement only covers sharing of video footage between the two networks. San Pedro claimed CGTN could not dictate on SMNI about news content that the latter would air.

The House committee on legislative franchises has adopted yesterday House Resolution 1499, urging the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to suspend the operation of SMNI for “gross violation” of its legislative franchise.

In yesterday’s hearing on the probe related to SMNI’s alleged franchise violations, Pwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Rep. Margarita Nograles, author of the resolution, urged the Securities and Exchange Commission to terminate SMNI’s SEC registration “due to fraud, which is a violation of the Revised Corporation Code.”

Voting anonymously with an abstention by Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel, HR 1499 was adopted for plenary approval.

During the hearing, Nograles said SMNI committed gross violations of its franchise including irresponsible and reckless practice of broadcasting fake and baseless stories, and unlawful