Breakdown: SMNI
What is SMNI?
Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) is the media network of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) church, founded and led by Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
SMNI developed from radio programming to television ministry and operated as ACQKBN Sonshine TV. In 2011, it was renamed to Sonshine TV.
SMNI’s parent company, Swara Sug Media Corporation, received its franchise renewal for another 25 years under President Duterte. They were subsequently awarded some of ABS-CBN’s frequencies in 2022.
Regular programming on SMNI includes Quiboloy’s preaching, news and current affairs, and “infotainment.”
Who is Quiboloy?
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy founded the KJC in 1985 after disputes with the United Pentecostal Church of the Philippines (UPCP). Quiboloy calls himself the “Appointed Son of God” and believes that he is “the chosen one.”
Quiboloy runs a non-profit called the Children’s Joy Foundation which has been accused of fraud. He was also indicted by a California Federal Grand Jury for sex trafficking and became of the FBI’s Most Wanted in 2022.
WHY IS QUIBOLOY WANTED BY THE FBI?
Among the sex-trafficking charges included in the 74-page federal warrant for his arrest, Quiboloy is also being charged with conspiracy and bulk cash smuggling. He is alleged to have participated in a labor-trafficking scheme that brought his church members to the US via fraudulent obtained visas.
Quiboloy is also alleged to have forced his church members to solicit donations to a bogus charity. Instead, the "donations" were used to fund church operations as well as to fund the lavish lifestyle of Quiboloy and other church leaders.
How are Quiboloy, Duterte, and Marcos connected?
Quiboloy endorsed Rodrigo Duterte, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, and Sara Duterte-Carpio for their respective electoral positions. He has given the elder Duterte cars, properties, & other lavish gift and lent his private jet & helicopter for campaign purposes.
Duterte has called Quiboloy his spiritual adviser & asked him to "redeem soul from the devil" for his deadly war on drugs.
In the 2022 election season, Marcos Jr. only attended debates organized by SMNI.
SMNI & Disinformation
SMNI has been found to be a key link and spreader of disinformation on Facebook and other platforms.
SMNI targets other news agencies, such as Rappler and ABS-CBN, by accusing them of being “biased” against the Duterte administration. Duterte supporters share SMNI disinformation media content so often that SMNI News was at the center of the network of digital media platforms that have shared and created posts attacking the media.
In 2022, SMNI published news stories regarding Marcos Jr.’s Oxford University education, claiming that he received his bachelor's degree. This was corrected and clarified by the university, saying that there is no record of Jr. completing a degree.
SMNI accused VP Leni Robredo of backing out of the debates out of fear of the panelists and that the release of the Quiboloy’s FBI wanted poster was an effort to destroy the Duterte regime's reputation.
SMNI & RED-TAGGING
During the filing for candidacy, SMNI journalists targeted progressive candidates, red-tagging the Makabayan block candidates; during the campaign season, VP Robredo was subjected to red-tagging.
Quiboloy red-tagged ABS-CBN, citing their affiliation with the CPP as one of the reasons for its shutdown in 2020, an unfounded claim and accusation.
Red-tagging expert and Duterte’s mouthpiece, Lorraine Badoy hosts "Laban Kasama ang Bayan" on the network. Frequent guests of SMNI's shows are members of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict [NTF-ELCAC].
