Charles Teves
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Sonshine Media Network Inc News (SMNI News) has been caught once again spreading disinformation on social media.
On its Facebook page, SMNI posted Social Weather Station survey results which show Bongbong Marcos with a big lead of 40 percentage points over Vice President Leni Robredo in voters’ preference for the presidency.
As of April 14, the post has garnered over 27,000 reactions and 4,100 shares.
However, SWS didn’t release any survey results on people’s presidential preferences for the month of March. SMNI shared the findings from a National Weather Survey conducted on December 12-21 last year.
The SWS has urged voters to only rely on the data found on its official website. It also said that fake information about survey results is to be expected during election season.
SMNI’s credibility has been in question ever since it started operations. Quiboloy likened media giant ABS-CBN to the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) because of its alleged “bias.”
Its anchor also called Rappler CEO Maria Ressa a liar who overacted when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway.
But despite the controversy it faces, SMNI still released an article on the network’s success of being awarded the ‘Most Credible and Reliable News Source of the Year.’
“Ayon sa award-giving body, napili nila ang SMNI News Channel para sa nasabing parangal dahil sa makatotohanan at responsableng paghahatid nito ng mga balita sa publiko.” the entry read.
“Kabilang na dito ang pagiging “Best Choice Fast Growing Social Media of the Year” mula sa Netizens’ Best Choice Awards; “Best Social Media Brand of the Year” mula sa Philippine Empowered Men and Women; “World Class Presidential Debate of the Year” mula sa Global Trends Business Leaders Awards; “Most Outstanding News and Public Affairs Channel” mula Asia Pacific Sterling Awards at Award of Excellence mula sa 5th Asia Pacific Luminare Awards.” it added.
