2022 PHILIPPINE ELECTION | MANILA- BBC has called out SMNI, a network owned by FBI suspect Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, for using its footage without permission for the recent presidential debate
The BBC logo is seen at BBC Broadcasting House on January 17, 2022 in London, England. (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
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BBC calls out Quiboloy-owned network for using footage without permission
London-based British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has called out Sonshine Media Network International (SMNI), a network owned by FBI suspect Pastor Apollo Quiboloy, for using its footage without permission and proper credit on SMNI’s trailer for the recent presidential debate held by the network.
On a Twitter post on Wednesday (Feb 16), BBC Philippines correspondent Howard Johnson showed a video of SMNI’s trailer containing news footage on highly disputed Scarborough Shoal in the West Philippine Sea. The network did not credit BBC and used the footage without permission.
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SMNI used the trailer during the presidential debate attended by Ernesto Abella, Leody de Guzman, Norberto Gonzales, and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at Okada Manila hotel in Parañaque City a day earlier.
Among the issues discussed in the event were China’s aggressions in the Philippine sea.
Panatag, or Scarborough Shoal, is located 220 kilometers west of Zambales province, which is within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone. However, it has been under China’s control since 2012.
Johnson reportedly went to Scarborough in 2021 with BBC producer Virma Simonette Rivera and fishermen from Pangasinan province to document the struggle of Filipino fisherfolk in their traditional fishing grounds. The footage was filmed there at the time.
“May malakas na paninindigan sa tama. Hindi magtataksil sa bayan at hindi tayo ipagpapalit sa kahit na ano man. Hindi magnanakaw ([SMNI] has a strong stand on what’s right. We will not betray the people. And we will not be exchanged for anything. Honest and not a thief), ” the SMNI presidential debate trailer read.
However, “neither the BBC News team in Manila nor London was approached for permission to use the footage,” Johnson said in a statement.
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He added that the footage of Scarborough Shoal, aired in July 2021 on BBC World News, is not available on the Getty website, a third-party site where news organizations can purchase BBC footage.
The BBC’s terms of use state that “To use any of the following things: Whole shows, clips, photos, content from bbc.co.uk, our logo and other branding, you need to get permission.”
According to the Code of Ethics of the Philippine Press Institute, journalists must use fair and honest methods in obtaining news, photographs and/or documents.
Pola Rubio is a news writer and photojournalist covering Philippine politics and events. She regularly follows worldwide and local happenings. The views expressed are her own.
Pola Rubio
