VIDEO-SHARING platform Youtube has terminated the channel of Sonshine Media Network Inc. (SMNI) News channel weeks after it terminated the Youtube channel of its owner, Pastor Apollo Quiboloy.
The channel was no longer visible on Friday, July 7.
According to Youtube, the SMNI News channel was taken down after it has been observed violating the “Youtube’s Terms of Service.”
A day after, SMNI News advertised its new YouTube channel.
“Subscribe to our New SMNI News YouTube Channel. Truth that Matters!” the advertisement stated.
As of Sunday, July 9, the channel has around 4,300 subscribers.
Aside from SMNI News, two other channels owned by controversial preacher Apollo Quiboloy's media organization, “Laban Kasama ang Bayan” and Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KOJC), were also taken down.
“Laban", a show that airs on SMNI, is hosted by former National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-Elcac) spokesperson Lorraine Badoy, who has been accused for "red-tagging" various progressive groups and the Makabayan bloc of the House of the Representatives.
SMNI has also been criticized by the opposition and journalists for their reporting.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte also has a program on the channel, “Gikan sa Masa, Para sa Masa,” where he voices his opinion on various issues, local or national.
Pastor Apollo Quiboloy’s Youtube channel was terminated last June 21.
In a Twitter post, YouTube said it has reviewed Quiboloy’s channel and found out that it was violating the platform’s guidelines.
The review came as YouTube's response to a Twitter user’s post that complained about Quiboloy’s continued use of the platform despite his standing arrest warrant in the United States (US).
SMNI has not issued a statement following the YouTube takedown. The channel is currently visible on Facebook and Twitter.
Quiboloy, who is currently facing sex trafficking charges filed against him in the US, recently said he is unfazed by the allegations thrown against him.
“Nothing new, pareho pa rin ang mga issues (The issues are still the same),” the pastor said on June 22 during the “Laban" program.