QUEZON Rep. David Suarez yesterday challenged the Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy to name the source of one of its hosts who claimed on air that Speaker Martin Romualdez has spent P1.8 billion in just a year for his trips.
The leadership of the House of Representatives, through Secretary General Reginald Velasco, also demanded “immediate retraction and apology from those spreading those fake lies” while warning SMNI that “we are exploring other options to hold (them) accountable for this smear campaign.”
Suarez, who earlier urged the House to direct the Committee on Legislative Franchises chaired by Parañaque Rep. Gus Tambunting to invite in a hearing not only the broadcaster who made the claim but the broadcasting station’s owner-franchise holder himself.
“I think it would be (a) prudent decision of the committee to invite the host. And I even, impose this challenge on them: Name your source, kasi ako, may dokumento akong hawak na nagsasabi kung magkano talaga ang ginastos ng House at ng Speaker sa kanilang travel (because I have a document saying how much was spent by the House and the Speaker in the travels),” he told reporters.
On SMNI’s “Laban Kasama ng Bayan” program, host Jeffrey Celis alleged that a “source” in Congress supposedly told him that Romualdez spent P1.8 billion for travel in just a year.
It was in the same network that former president Rodrigo Duterte lambasted the House leadership for stripping his daughter Vice President Sara Duterte of confidential funds under the proposed P5.768 trillion national budget for 2024.
“‘Yun po ba ay numero lang na hinugot niyo sa buwan at binanggit sa telebisyon? Dahil base sa mga dokumento at papeles na hawak po namin, hindi po ‘yun ang katotohanan (Is that just a number that came out of thin air and mentioned on national television? Because based on documents and papers in our possession, that’s not the truth),” Suarez said.
“Show me your documents. Show me your data. Inform us who your source is, and I will compare it to mine and there we will find out what the real truth is with regard to this issue,” he added.
He stressed that both the Quiboloy network and its program host are accountable for the travel fund claim.
“Well, I feel that the network and the host are both accountable. Kasi unang-una, pinalabas po ito sa show nila. Pangalawa, as journalists, responsable sila, dapat bago sila naglabas ng kung anumang news article o news report, it has to be validated (First of all, the claim was made in their show. Second, as journalists, they are responsible in making sure that their news article or report are validated). I mean I’m sure all of you members of media do the same. Especially when it comes to figures and data we consider to be of national concern,” the Quezon lawmaker said.
On Tuesday, Suarez delivered a privilege speech asking the Committee on Legislative Franchises to inquire into the SMNI host’s travel budget allegations, which he said he himself heard.
“I immediately went to the finance department of the House of Representatives to find out if this is true and there is no truth to the P1.8 billion pesos. It is fake news, and it is an absurd lie that they are spreading,” he said.
He said as a member of the House, “I felt it incumbent upon myself, I need to clarify this issue on the floor because it affects and attacks the very integrity and dignity of the House of Representatives.”
