On December 11, former broadcaster Jay Sonza appeared before the panel of the House Committee on Legislative Franchises’ during its inquiry on the alleged franchise violations of SMNI.
Sonza didn’t attend the first two hearings of SMNI’s violations. However, when the 68-year-old former broadcaster responded to the questions from the panel led by Parañaque City 2nd district Rep. Gus Tambunting, Sonza was forced to reveal the truth that he gets paid PHP 1 Million a month as a consultant for the network.
“It’s a sizable amount Mr. Chairman…A million…A million per month.”
His admission regarding to how much he gets paid monthly stirred up mixed reactions from netizens.
Most netizens called out the former broadcaster and known fake-news peddler.
Grabe!!! Kaya naman pala! https://t.co/w2vn9ve3j5
— Jonathan Manalo (@JonathanManalo) December 11, 2023
🤡🤡🤡
— KIKX (@kikxsalazar) December 11, 2023
No wonder kaya Pala madami nakapaligid sa kanila million Naman Pala Ang labanan per month …tssk..nakaka 😡😡😡
— John Michael Celo (@JohnMichaelCel5) December 11, 2023
Tumataginting na 1 million per month ang tag price n'ya. Char char char
— #Kakampink ❤️ (@AltABSCBNSB) December 11, 2023
Buti pa si Jay Sonza may 1M a month.😅
— A.G. Ricarte (@AG_Ricarte) December 13, 2023
https://twitter.com/i_r_hell/status/1734785791300440469
https://twitter.com/Daeson29/status/1734764643825139952
Others defended Sonza with various ‘whataboutisms,’ seemingly attempting to stir the conversation away from Sonza.
What if it's 1M? At least Jay Sonza earned it with honesty as consultant. But what about people in government who earned more than a million with dishonesty and are still called honorable.
— ThePatriot 🇵🇭🇵🇭🇵🇭 (@that_attitude) December 13, 2023
To those who say 1M per month is TOO MUCH for a consultant such as Jay Sonza who has 35 years of experience mass media, then tell me how much is the right amount for him?
I want to know.
— Lakay (@LakasNgTimog) December 13, 2023
KUNG SI JAY SONZA UMAMING TUMATANGGAP NG P1M BILANG CONSULTANT NG SMNI,
MAS MALAKI ANG TINATANGGAP NI BADOY AT CELIZ BILANG ANCHORS NG SMNI.
PARA MANINDIGAN SA KASINUNGALINGAN.
— STORYMAKER (@T4rgetL0cked) December 13, 2023
Wowowin host Willie Revillame, who worked as an entertainment personality and not a broadcast journalist, also got dragged into the conversation.
Si Willie Revillame popular, si Jay Sonza ba? 35 yrs of experience and trolling in social media is the only thing he can show for it.
Maybe he's 1M richer but he's still a pathetic human being.— Millennial Anarchist 🟥Ⓐ⬛️ (@MillAnarchist) December 13, 2023
Willie Revillame famously (or infamously) got paid 1M per Wowowie episode.
PER EPISODE.
And that was aired daily.
Now, how ridiculous must we be to be surprised that someone with 35 yrs of experience deserves 1M per month?
Heck, some bands charge close to 1M PER show!
— Lakay (@LakasNgTimog) December 13, 2023
Do you know how they get money?
Do you know why shows has sponsors and advertisers?
So kay Jay Sonza, anong consultation ginagawa nya for 1M a month?
At bakit hindi nag a-appear sa documents ung 1mil nya? https://t.co/IBQA8PVDcc
— Political Attack Pig (@AttackPig00) December 13, 2023
The former broadcast journalist-turned SMNI consultant also disclosed that he began working for SMNI on March 20, 2023. It meant he would’ve already had a total of P8 million as a consultant.
However, Sonza didn’t attempt to share other details about his work arrangement with SMNI.