SMNI host cited in contempt, detained

MANILA, Philippines — The House committee on legislative franchises has detained and cited in contempt Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) host Jeffrey Celiz after he repeatedly refused to identify the source of his “unverified” information alleging that Speaker Martin Romualdez incurred P1.8 billion in travel expenses.

“I move to detain Mr. Celiz for he was cited in contempt until the adoption of the committee report at the plenary session,” Surigao del Sur 2nd District Rep. Johnny Pimentel said.

Hearing no objection, panel chair Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. Gus Tambunting approved Pimentel’s motion.

Celiz will most likely spend his Christmas in detention, since Congress is scheduled to have its break on Dec. 15 and resume session on Jan. 22 next year.

Quezon 2nd District Rep. David Suarez, who has been vocal in his stand against SMNI anchors Celiz and Lorraine Badoy, insisted that they cannot invoke the Sotto Law or Republic Act 11458 on the basis that Celiz admitted his information was not vetted at all.

The Sotto Law exempts publishers, editors or reporters from revealing the news source or information obtained in confidence.

“Celiz admitted in the last hearing that his source got it all wrong, and he even apologized for that. So why should he now invoke the Sotto Law, which is not anymore applicable to him?” Suarez declared.

Celiz also admitted last week that his source was from the Senate, not the House.

“This has something to do with the relationship between the Senate and the House. I won’t be surprised if the Senate might conduct its own inquiry into this matter as well. You already involved the Senate in this misinformation and fake news,” Suarez added.

Tambunting agreed and said that Celiz “always cited a law (Sotto Law) that did not apply to the committee because it was not the law’s intent. He cannot hide under that law and lastly, he was already given counsel.”

Suarez said it was important for the SMNI host to identify his source since Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he knew no one in the Senate who could have provided such information.

Meanwhile, a first-term lawmaker from Davao City has filed a House resolution calling on the