The House Committee on Legislative Franchises on Tuesday, Dec. 11, lifted the detention order earlier imposed against Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI) hosts Jeffrey ‘Ka Eric’ Celiz and Lorraine Badoy.
In an interview with the media, Parañaque City 2nd District Rep. and House Committee on Legislative Franchises chairman Gus Tambunting said the committee members agreed to release Celiz and Badoy based on humanitarian grounds.
"Ang desisyon ay sila ay papalayin on humanitarians reasons, sila ay magpapaskuhan [...] In the Spirit of Christmas, we are giving them both the freedom to leave their detention cells. Ito ang panahon para sa pagmamahalan," he said.
Tambunting also said the SMNI hosts cannot be left in detention while the House is on a session break.
Just in> dalawang anchors ng SMNI na sina Keddrey Celiz at Loraine Badoy pinalaya na ng Kamara… Ito ay dahil sa humanitarian reason dahil magpa-Pasko @dzrhnews pic.twitter.com/PhL188W7zu
— milky rigonan š (@milkyrigonan) December 12, 2023
According to the House solon, Celiz had penned a letter expressing remorse for what they had done during the panel hearing last week.
The SMNI host had also complied with their request and revealed the source, who had claimed that House Speaker Martin Romualdez allegedly spent ā±1.8 billion for travel expenses.
"Sinabi naman po nila verbally sa akin na alam nilang may pagkukulang sila. They’re also both remorseful at sila ay nagsisisi rin at naiintindihan nila," he said.
Tambunting said the House Committee on Legislative Franchises might call Celiz and Badoy again for a hearing in January 2024.
The SMNI hosts were taken to House detention cell after they were cited in contempt during a panel hearing last Dec. 5.
They were freed from detention, two days after their spouses filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the Supreme Court in Manila.
The petition questioned the contempt and detention power of the House of Representatives against media practitioners, and asked the higher court to order the House to release Celiz and Badoy.
