In the ongoing investigation into the pro-China SMNI’s alleged franchise violations and dissemination of fake news, the Committee on Legislative Franchises has unearthed a financial downturn within the network.

Specifically, it has been revealed during the hearing that the program ‘Laban Kasama ang Bayan’ featuring talents and accused red-taggers Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric Celiz’ and Lorraine Badoy has failed to generate any advertising revenue for two consecutive years.

This revelation follows the admission of veteran TV personality Jay Sonza, who abruptly emerged as SMNI’s consultant during the hearing.

Sonza not only acknowledged the financial difficulties of Celiz and Badoy’s program but also asserted that their show is a co-production.

According to Sonza, SMNI’s responsibilities in this co-production arrangement are confined to technical operations and airtime.

This assertion seems to be a strategic move by Sonza to distance SMNI from Celiz and Badoy’s program, which has come under scrutiny for allegedly spreading fake news about House Speaker Martin Romualdez’s purported P1.8 billion travel expenses—a claim later proven false.

“Sanctions have to be imposed [against Mr. Celiz]. And we now have the official sanction which we can provide the committee regarding the actions taken by SMNI, which is suspension,” stated Sonza during the hearing.

Sonza elaborated that SMNI’s internal investigation into Celiz was prematurely terminated after Celiz admitted during the first hearing on November 30 that his information was unverified.

Committee Chair Rep. Gus Tambunting seemed unconvinced by Sonza’s explanation, questioning how Celiz and Badoy’s program could persist for two years without generating any advertising revenue.

Tambunting asked, “Question, two years na tumatakbo yong program. Walang kita. Paano po siłą? Paano siłą nakakapagtiis ng dalawang taon na wala silang kita pero banat siłą nang banat.”

When Tambunting pressed on whether SMNI treated Celiz and Badoy as regular employees with a fixed salary, the SMNI legal counsel, Mark Tolentino, responded that the two receive a monthly talent fee of P100,000.

During further questioning by Rep. David Suarez, Sonza appeared evasive about the start date of his consultancy, claiming it began “just recently” and then specifying March 20 when pressed for a precise date.

On the topic of his compensation, Sonza initially evaded, eventually conceding to a “sizable amount” and surprising the audience by revealing it to be one million pesos per month.

Suarez expressed doubt about Sonza’s sudden involvement as a consultant, stating, “We’ve been having these hearings for the past three weeks at ngayon lang kayo lumitaw kayo medyo nakakagulat po ang pagdalo po ninyo sa committee.”

Suarez requested SMNI to provide paperwork regarding Sonza’s consultancy work to clarify the nature of his involvement.

Notably, in August, Sonza was detained in the Quezon City Jail quarantine facility in Payatas after being arrested for alleged estafa, syndicated, and large-scale illegal recruitment, as reported by the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).