VP Sara tells SMNI: Consult your lawyers

Following the move of the House of Representatives to revoke Sonshine Media Network International’s (SMNI) franchise to operate, Vice President Sara Duterte on Thursday advised the broadcasting network to seek legal options to save their operations.

“What I would suggest sa SMNI is to consult their lawyers kung ano ‘yung mga pwedeng (about the possible) legal options with regard to their franchise,” Duterte said in an ambush interview in Cambodia.

The Lower House on Wednesday approved on third and final reading the measure revoking the franchise of Swara Sug Media Corp. which operates SMNI, the broadcast network of Kingdom of Jesus Christ Church led by Pastor Apollo Quibiloy.

Duterte is a known ally of Quiboloy, who is accused of child abuse and human trafficking. She earlier said the pastor deserves to be given a fair trial in the right court.

The Senate on Tuesday officially released an arrest order against Quiboloy for “unduly refusing to appear, despite due notices” at the hearings of the Senate committee on women, children, family relations, and gender equality.

Asked for her thoughts on the order for Quiboloy’s arrest, Duterte said that her opinion does not matter anymore.

“Hindi naman na mag-matter ‘yung advice ko and opinion ko dito (My advice and opinion won’t matter here anymore),” she said.—AOL, GMA Integrated News