Former Senators Sonny Trillanes and Leila De Lima expressed their thoughts on the recent announcement by former President Rodrigo Duterte concerning the MTRCB’s suspension of two SMNI programs, including his own, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa.”
In a press release dated Tuesday, December 19, the MTRCB imposed a 14-day preventive suspension on two SMNI programs, effective Monday, December 18. The regulatory board cited complaints about the shows airing unverified news content, alleged death threats, and the use of foul language, all of which contravene government guidelines and standards outlined in Presidential Decree 1986.
Duterte, in a social media statement on Thursday, December 21, criticized the decision, asserting, “One, you have to be in gross violation of my constitutional right to free expression.”
Sonny Trillanes, a vocal critic of Duterte, echoed a netizen’s sentiments, expressing his agreement with the criticism of the former President. In a tweet posted on Saturday, December 23, Trillanes exclaimed, “Exactly!” underscoring his strong alignment with the netizen’s viewpoint.
Exactly! https://t.co/nQmJi4ZPan
— Sonny Trillanes IV (@TrillanesSonny) December 23, 2023
Trillanes tweet was in reaction to netizen @_rainbowfighter’s tweet saying “PUTANGINA KA DIGONG!!! The nerve! He now complains but he had the “audacity” to abuse the presidential powers when he was in Malacanang. LABANAN NATIN ANG GAGONG ITO AT ANG KANYANG MGA SUPPORTERS!!! #YesToSMNIShutdown”
https://twitter.com/_rainbowfighter/status/1738396446846828757?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1738480384625852722%7Ctwgr%5E0e399ead3aa5efbabd3693c371b73949286b82f0%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lionheartv.net%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php
In addition to Trillanes, another outspoken critic of Duterte, former Senator Leila de Lima, conveyed her reactions on social media. Through a series of tweets, de Lima characterized SMNI as an overt propaganda machine, emphasizing that it should not be equated with legitimate media entities such as ABS-CBN, GMA, or TV5.
“SMNI is not ABS-CBN, GMA or TV5. SMNI is a blatant propaganda media arm that pioneers on fake news dissemination. Prior restraint principles do not apply to these new “media” establishments that are not bound by and do not observe broadcast journalism ethics and standards.”
SMNI is not ABS-CBN, GMA or TV5. SMNI is a blatant propaganda media arm that pioneers on fake news dissemination. Prior restraint principles do not apply to these new "media" establishments that are not bound by and do not observe broadcast journalism ethics and standards. (6/11)
— Leila de Lima (@AttyLeiladeLima) December 20, 2023
Netizen @seungminxjunho also slammed Duterte over his statement knowing his role in the ABS-CBN shutdown.
“This guy was the one who ordered for ABSCBN shutdown btw”
This guy was the one who ordered for ABSCBN shutdown btw https://t.co/NNS7I1oDIs
— #1 seungminer (@seungminxjunho) December 23, 2023
@justandoy also scored Duterte, sharing a side by side artcards of his contrasting statements during the ABS-CBN shutdown and SMNI suspension.
“Tatay Digong nyo high na naman”
https://twitter.com/justandoy/status/1738182817299972383
@arvenluv also brought up the ABS-CBN issue calling, the SMNI’s suspension as ‘karma’
“wow ! naman eh yung ginawa mo sa Abs cbn !! Karma yan!!”
wow ! naman eh yung ginawa mo sa Abs cbn !! Karma yan!! https://t.co/fml3dwFQ5b
— AFD (@ARVENLUV) December 22, 2023
@juicepancho also similarly tweeted, “Coming from someone na nagpasara ng ABS-CBN hahaha Patawa ka tanda.”
Coming from someone na nagpasara ng ABS-CBN hahaha
Patawa ka tanda https://t.co/U4ak7LzHdX— juice_pancho (@JuicePancho) December 23, 2023
