Several Filipino journalists slammed SMNI’s Presidential Debate held Tuesday, February 15, at the Ballroom of Okada Manila.
Before the event, SMNI already made a buzz when four presidential frontrunners–Sen. Manny Pacquiao, Sen. Ping Lacson, Mayor Isko Moreno, and Vice President Leni Robredo declined the invitation with their valid personal reasons.
SMNI Owner and FBI wanted person Pastor Apollo Quiboloy has already endorsed the tandem of Marcos Jr. and Duterte-Carpio.
SMNI President, on the other hand, immediately issued a bitter statement saying it’s not SMNI’s loss that the four presidential candidates declined their invitation.
LOOK: SMNI president Dr. Marlon Rosete issues a short statement on the absence of some presidential candidates on their presidential debate, scheduled tomorrow | @cnnphilippines #TheFilipinoVotes
(Photo from @smninews Facebook page) pic.twitter.com/PD00JReUn7
— Paolo “BravoSix” Barcelon (@pnbarcelonlive) February 14, 2022
Rappler’s Camille Diola pointed out SMNI’s failure to mention the other candidate’s reason for skipping the debate, primarily Pacquiao, who directly mentioned Quiboloy’s warrant of arrest from the FBI for sex trafficking in the US.
“Quiboloy’s SMNI fails to mention presidential candidates’ reasons for skipping its organized debate—most notable of which is Pacquiao’s—and then chooses to interview those who’d slam them for not accepting the invitation.”
Quiboloy's SMNI fails to mention presidential candidates' reasons for skipping its organized debate—most notable of which is Pacquiao's—and then chooses to interview those who'd slam them for not accepting the invitation.
— Camille Diola (@camillediola) February 15, 2022
ANC’s broadcast-journalist Christian Esguerra also took a pot shot on the event pointed out one of the panelists who happened to be a die-hard fanatic of presidential front-runner Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Panelist as apologist
— Christian Esguerra (@IanEsguerra) February 15, 2022
Ayaw magpa-interview kay Jessica Soho kasi biased daw. Pero may openly biased na panelist? pic.twitter.com/Jw07uAJGpY
— Russ (@rhussellfamy) February 15, 2022
Also, @jaicabajar pointed out the clear biases of other SMNI anchors toward Marcos Jr. during the pre-debate show. He stressed that he never noticed it in Jessica Soho, KBP, and CNN, which the Marcos Jr. camp accused of being biased.
Jessica Soho, KBP, CNN would never https://t.co/KckWdAEJVi
— Jai Cabajar (@jaicabajar) February 15, 2022
Meanwhile, Rappler columnist and economist JC Punongbayan lasted SMNI’s obvious disinformation when it introduced Marcos Jr. as an economist.
“Marcos Jr. an economist??? Potek naman.”
Marcos Jr. an economist??? Potek naman. https://t.co/vdeD062EEv pic.twitter.com/cWXqViRo5n
— JC Punongbayan, PhD (@jcpunongbayan) February 15, 2022
Former PTV4 anchor Jules Guiang compared the debate to a college thesis defense with the panelists occasional debate among themselves.
“SMNI Thesis Defense 2022”
SMNI Thesis Defense 2022
— Jules Guiang (@julesguiang) February 15, 2022
SMNI is dubbed as the Duterte administration’s propaganda machinery.
According to a Rappler report, SMNI tried to legitimize attacks and misinformation against government critics.
Its main anchor Mike Abe is the main agent of disinformation. His commentaries are geared to proliferate disinformation about various socio-political topics.
