The National Telecommunications Commission imposed on Thursday (December 21) a 30 day suspension in the operations of embattled Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI).

Reportedly owned and operated by parties allied with the controversial Pastor Carreon Quiboloy, founder of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, SMNI just recently suffered two setbacks following alleged attacks aired against Speaker Martin Romualdez.

Late November, the House Committee on Legislative Franchise cited in contempt SMNI commentators Jeffrey Celiz and Lorraine Badoy of the radio program Laban Kasama ang Bayan. Both were detained at the Batasan Pambansa for alleged refusal to reveal the source of their information regarding Romualdez’s alleged P1.8 billion travel funds.

On December 19, the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board (MTRCB) suspended for for 14 days SMNI radio programs “Dikan sa Masa, para sa Masa” and “Laban Kasama ang Bayan”.

In a statement, the NTC revealed that SMNI’s suspension was the agency’s response to House Resolution No. 189 that recommended the penalty over allegations of violations of the terms and conditions of its legislative franchise.

A show cause order was also issued against Swara Sug Media Corporation, SMNI’s business name. The NTC directed Swara Sug to explain within 15 days why it should not face administrative sanctions in connection with the Lower House complaint.

According to the SMNI, Swara Sug “has violated at least three specific provisions of its legislative franchise and gave due deference to such determination of the House of Representatives and its authority over all matters directly and principally relating to the grant, amendment, extension or revocation of franchises.”

SMNI is expected to seek relief before the judiciary as what Badoy and Celiz resorted to following their detention.

Through their lawyers and family members, the duo filed a petition for the writ of habeas corpus before the Supreme Court in their bid to seek their release from Lower House detention.

However, they were freed even before the High Court could act on their respective petitions.