In the aftermath of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s bold remarks about military intervention influencing the current congress, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) has taken action by suspending two programs on SMNI — one hosted by Duterte himself and the other led by Lorraine Badoy and Jeffrey Celiz.

The suspension, effective for two weeks, comes in response to several complaints regarding alleged violations on the shows “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa” and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan,” both currently under legislative scrutiny.

The MTRCB, in an official statement on Tuesday, cited numerous complaints as the basis for the suspension, highlighting issues with the October 10 episode of “Gikan Sa Masa, Para Sa Masa” where Duterte purportedly aired a death threat against ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro.

The board also received another complaint regarding an alleged death threat and the use of profane language by a guest on the same show on November 15.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte’s recent political statements at a Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan event stirred controversy, raising questions about the possibility of military involvement in response to what he labeled a “patent, clear violation of the constitution.”

SMNI, a pro-Duterte network allegedly owned by his close friend Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, has come under investigation, leading Duterte to be widely regarded as the country’s new opposition leader.

The MTRCB’s suspension extends to “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” after Celiz made on-air claims about House Speaker Martin Romualdez spending 1.8 billion for travels this year.

The host later admitted during a House hearing that the information was unverified, prompting the board’s unanimous decision to suspend the program. In the case of Duterte’s weekly show, the majority of the board members voted in favor of halting its airing.

“To prevent the possible repetition of these alleged infractions, which may pose a negative impact on public welfare, ethical considerations, and the overall reputation of the broadcasting industry, the Board determined the need to preventively suspend the subject program/s,” stated the MTRCB, emphasizing that SMNI is expected to rectify the issues during the suspension period.

ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro welcomed the suspension order, expressing hope that it marks the beginning of hosts being held accountable for consistent red tagging.

Earlier this month, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution urging the National Telecommunications Commission to suspend SMNI’s operations, while another lawmaker filed a bill seeking the revocation of SMNI’s franchise over alleged violations and fake news peddling.