FOLLOWING Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI’s) appeal to the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Movie And Television Review And Classification Board (MTRCB), and Court of Appeals (CA), regarding the receipt of the suspension order, the network’s anchors, including former Presidential Spokesperson Atty. Harry Roque, other on-air personalities, and reporters, collectively went to the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning to personally challenge the 30-day preventive suspension and the indefinite cease and desist order issued by the NTC against the network.
They filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition, citing grave abuse of discretion on the part of the NTC.
It is worth noting that the NTC based its suspension on the hearings conducted in the House of Representatives.
The petitioners also discovered that the NTC acted as the complainant, judge, and enforcer of penalties against SMNI.
According to Atty. Roque, based on court rules, the NTC has no right to revoke or shut down operations or franchises.
Only the court or the passage of a law nullifying the company’s franchise can do so.
The journalists of the network also appealed to the highest court to issue a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and preliminary injunction against the NTC’s suspension order.
They believe that the NTC’s directive against SMNI suppresses press freedom and freedom of expression.
The livelihood of the journalists has been affected due to the uncertainty of when the network’s operations on television and radio will resume, given the indefinite cease and desist order issued on January 22.
Here are the bold statements made by SMNI journalists.
