MANILA, Philippines — Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) has confirmed that its official Facebook pages, including affiliate accounts DZAR 1026 and SMNI Integrated News, have been suspended by Meta for alleged violations of community standards related to hate speech.
In a statement published on its website, SMNI claimed the suspension was due to accusations of “expressing hatred or contempt for a group of people” and “using harmful racial stereotypes.”
“Let us be clear: we do not post anything harmful to the community,” SMNI asserted.
The suspension comes amid heightened scrutiny of the network, which is owned by televangelist Apollo Quiboloy, a close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte. Quiboloy is currently facing serious allegations, including charges of rape.
The incident also follows the recent arrest of Duterte, who has long been associated with SMNI and Quiboloy.
Reacting to the suspension, Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, another Duterte ally, expressed dismay in a Facebook post on Wednesday, stating: “Pilipinas, where do we go from here?”
Dela Rosa also urged followers to tune in to alternative Meta platforms, including Pulso ng Bayan and Newsblast.
A quick search reveals that SMNI’s official pages on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube are currently inaccessible to the public, although the network’s official website remains active.
Meta, the U.S.-based tech giant, operates several major platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp.