Far-right bias and red-tagging According to a report by
Rappler, the network allegedly fuels disinformation, misleading claims and propaganda to attack journalists and critics of the
Duterte administration. It also has been accused of being a
far-right channel in the Philippines. Quiboloy and SMNI later created accounts on the
alt-tech video service
Rumble as well as an
alternate account for SMNI on YouTube in defiance of sanctions; the latter account was suspended by YouTube a few days later. On 15 September 2023, the SMNI News' Facebook page was deleted, in accordance to Meta's Dangerous Organizations and Individuals Policy. On 19 March 2025, Meta took down 3 Facebook pages affiliated with SMNI, including from DZAR 1026 citing "expressing hatred or contempt for a group of people and using harmful racial stereotypes" that violated Meta's community standards.
Administrative complaint SMNI is facing an administrative complaint filed in May 2022 before the
National Telecommunications Commission (NTC). Concepcion Empeño and Erlinda Cadapan, the mothers of
disappeared students Karen Empeño and Sherlyn Cadapan, and left-wing human rights group
Karapatan petitioned the NTC to revoke Swara Sug Media Corporation's franchise, for airing on SMNI an interview with convicted kidnapper and retired Army General
Jovito Palparan. The complainants said in a statement that the broadcast propagated
disinformation in violation of Republic Act No. 11422 and the 2007 Broadcast Code of the Philippines. Palparan and program host Lorraine Badoy also
red-tagged former vice president and then-presidential candidate
Leni Robredo during the broadcast, which the complainants alleged were in violation of Commission on Elections' Resolution No. 10730 involving truth in advertising and fair and accurate reporting.
House franchise probe Suspension of programs Two programs were placed under a 14-day preventive suspension by the
Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, effective 18 December 2023, following reported complaints on their alleged violations. Majority of board members voted to suspend
Gikan sa Masa, para sa Masa, where program host,
former president Rodrigo Duterte, allegedly twice aired threats against
ACT Teachers party-list representative France Castro. Celiz was eventually detained for seven days together with his fellow host,
Lorraine Badoy, who was also cited in contempt. Celiz and Badoy went on a hunger strike in response to the "travesty" of the House proceedings and their detention. On 11 December, Celiz' wife and Badoy's husband, represented by lawyer and fellow SMNI host
Harry Roque, filed a petition before the Supreme Court to release the two news hosts on or before 15 December; the petition also asked the court to issue a
writ of habeas corpus declaring their detention had no legal basis and to issue a writ declaring that the House acted with grave abuse of discretion. Four days later, the House released Celiz and Badoy from detention citing "humanitarian reasons (because it is Christmas)". On 21 December, the
National Telecommunications Commission issued an order suspending operations of the entire SMNI for 30 days, as well as a
show cause order against the network. On 22 January 2024, the NTC, per Deputy Commissioners John Paulo Salvahan and Alvin Bernardo Blanco, in a 6-page Cease and Desist Order, made the 30-day SMNI suspension indefinite: “Pursuant to Sec. 4, Rule 10, the 2006 Rules of Practice and Procedure… the Commission hereby directs respondent to cease and desist from operating its radio and television stations under the authorities enumerated in the 19 December 2023 show-cause-order (with 30-day suspension order pending hearing and final consideration of the above-captioned case).” The Order was signed after the House of Representatives said in Resolution 189 that "the SMNI violated several provisions of its franchise as provided under Republic Act 11422". ==References==