The allegations of bias in ABS-CBN’s reporting, particularly those in the past national elections, have been tackled in the Lower House as hearing on the network’s franchise continued.
“Tinanggap po namin ang delay sa pag-issue ng tseke po. Yung hindi po pag-ere ng ads ay resulta ng polisiya na first come first served (We accept the delay on the issuance of the cheque. The non-airing of ads was a result of the first come first served policy),” ABS-CBN President and CEO Carlo Katigbak explained.
Some lawmakers also pointed out the alleged sensationalizing of some news stories by the network in the past which they claimed to have had negative impact on the public. ABS-CBN Head of Integrated News and Current Affairs Ging Reyes responded that her department did its best in correcting errors and mistakes, and admitted that ABS-CBN is not perfect like other media organizations.
“They have to hire lawyers, spend a lot, spend everything simply because you had a series of experts… binansagan niyo yung mga eksperto na hindi naman totoong expert (You called people experts who are not really experts),” Rep. Janette Garin said.
“Wala pong malisya doon. Kaya po hinigpitan namin ang editorial controls para mapigilan ang mga ganitong pagkakamali (There’s no malice in there. That’s why we are strengthening our editorial controls to stop such mistakes). It is a continuing efforts our protocols and processes,” Reyes said.
Meanwhile, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano expressed he wishes that Congress also scrutinize other franchises back then, just like how they are doing now with the embattled network.
“But ang assessment ko so far, very exhaustive ang discussion. Hindsight, sana lahat ng nag-a-apply ng franchise ganito kabusisi ang ginawa natin but that’s hindsight, (My assessment so far is that the discussion has been exhaustive. I hope all those who applied back then were reviewed this way, but that’s hindsight),” Cayetano said.
Katigbak already made a public commitment to air every side of every public official facing an issue which some lawmakers commended. – Report from Daniel Manalastas
