Pro-China and pro-Duterte media network SMNI appears to be facing imminent closure following revelations in the latest congressional hearing on Wednesday, February 7.

The hearing found that the network, now considered an opposition outlet, had violated the terms of its suspension and committed other franchise infractions.

Accused of flouting its 30-day suspension issued on December 19, the network, purportedly owned by evangelical leader Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, was also charged with directly red-tagging House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is the first cousin of President Bongbong Marcos.

During the hearing, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) confirmed that SMNI continued to operate in region 6 despite being under suspension.

Representative Johnny Pimentel of Surigao del Sur’s second district expressed frustration, stating, “Are there any sanctions for the defiance of the suspension, because clearly, SMNI thinks that they’re above the law?”

NTC chairman Gamaliel Cordoba acknowledged the defiance, stating, “This was taken into account by the commission.”

Regarding the status of SMNI’s case, Cordoba stated that they are still reviewing SMNI’s responses and submissions.

When asked about the possibility of filing a case against SMNI for defying NTC orders, Cordoba indicated that it could be incorporated into the ongoing administrative case.

Pimentel stressed that the committee had established violations by SMNI that he believes “are grounds for the revocation” of the network’s franchise.

These violations included disseminating fake news, red-tagging, failure to comply with reportorial requirements, and other infractions.

During questioning, SMNI admitted to operating on various social media platforms, including X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, TikTok, WeTV, Rumble, and Facebook and Instagram through its individual programs.

Kabataan party-list Rep. Raoul Manuel disclosed that SMNI produced numerous videos about red-tagging and disseminating misinformation.

“We’ve monitored several red-tagging and misinformation videos over the span of two months, from September 1 to October 30. That’s more than 288 videos,” Manuel stated, delivering his remarks partly in Filipino.

“On average, five videos per day feature SMNI programs alleging connections between youth organizations and people’s groups as fronts for rebel factions. These are uploaded to SMNI’s old YouTube account,” he elaborated.

Manuel further accused SMNI of serving as a propaganda arm for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC), an anti-communist task force established during the tenure of former President Rodrigo Duterte.

Additionally, the representative presented a video purportedly showing SMNI anchor Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz red-tagging Romualdez on January 9.

In the footage, Celiz is heard alleging, “President Marcos Jr. cavorting and supporting etong illegal use of power ng NTC at MTRCB, at pati na po pangingialam at abuso sa poder ng kanyang pinsan na kasabwat na ngayon ng CCP-NPA-NDC from congress.”

When questioned about their awareness of Celiz potentially engaging in red-tagging, all SMNI officers present at the hearing claimed they were unaware of Celiz making such incriminating statements.

Meanwhile, the committee also voted in favor of issuing a subpoena to Quiboloy, aiming to compel his presence at the upcoming hearing.

Pimentel, serving as the committee’s vice chairman, cautioned Quiboloy that failing to comply with the subpoena would prompt them to seek a contempt order for his arrest.

“We have invited him not once but several times already, but unfortunately, he has not attended our hearings,” Pimentel remarked.