ni Beth Gelena @Bulgary | August 24, 2025
Photo: Mayor Vico Sotto at Korina Sanchez-Roxas - FB, IG
Sinagot na ng team ni Korina Sanchez si Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto kaugnay ng ipinost nito laban sa panayam ng broadcast journalist sa mag-asawang Sarah at Curlee Discaya.
Ang mag-asawang Discaya ay konektado sa malalaking kontrata sa flood control projects ng Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) sa pamamagitan ng kanilang mga kumpanya.
Ayon kay Mayor Sotto, nakapagtataka kung bakit handang gumastos ng P10 M ang mga contractors para lamang sa isang panayam.
Kaagad namang umalma ang kampo ni Korina at tinawag na ‘malicious’ at ‘libelous’ ang naging pahayag ni Sotto.
Iginiit nila na ang panayam ay isang ‘lifestyle feature’ at hindi investigative report, at walang basehan ang alegasyong may P10 milyong ibinayad kapalit ng interview.
Ayon kay Julius Babao, ang kanyang vlog ay ginawa upang magbigay-inspirasyon sa mga ‘rags-to-riches’ stories at walang kinalaman sa pulitika noong panahong iyon.
Tugon naman ng kampo ni Korina, “Mahal kong Mayor Sotto, ang mga platform na Korina Interviews at Rated Korina ay parehong ipinagmamalaki ang kanilang pamantayan sa pagkukuwento at produksyon. Ang aming host na si Ms. Korina Sanchez-Roxas ay iginagalang sa industriya para sa napakatibay na dahilan.
“Una, sa pagpili ng mga paksa para sa aming mga palabas, dapat mayroong interes ng publiko at may kuwento na sasabihin. Ikalawa, mahigpit na ipinagbabawal ang pamba-bash o paninirang-puri sa ibang personalidad o negosyo. Ikatlo, ang mga paksa ay nagsasabi lamang ng kanilang sariling kuwento ng buhay. Hindi ito investigative piece.
“In the case of Sara and Curlee Discaya, their rags-to-riches story is their story. Bagama’t hindi nilayon na maging investigative kundi simpleng feature ng tagumpay, kung may anumang bagay na hindi totoo pagkatapos maipalabas, bahala na ang nag-aakusa na patunayan.
“In fairness to Ms. Sanchez, she only found out she was interviewing a Pasig mayoralty candidate on the day of taping. The interview was conducted well before the campaign period, aired in November 2024 and January 2025. Yes, there are payments for certain businesses, products, personalities, companies, or politicians, much like payments for advertisements, and these go to the network with an official receipt issued to the client. There is no such thing as a 10-million peso placement for an interview.
“To insinuate that our show is irresponsible in only airing what is paid for is slanderous. Mr. Mayor, just because you won your seat of public trust does not give you license to cast doubt on the integrity of seasoned journalists simply because they interviewed your opponent.
“The Discayas are not allowed to use the interview video they are propagating, and legal action shall be taken on this matter. While we recognize free speech and the platforms with which we express opinions, there is also such a thing as thoughtful restraint that benefits truth and fairness. We all claim to be Christian, after all.”
Ano kaya ang mangyayari sa susunod na kabanata ng gulong ito? Makakasuhan kaya si Mayor Vico Sotto?
Samantala, ang dami namang nakisawsaw agad sa isyu at nagpahayag ng kani-kanilang opinyon sa socmed.
"Alam mo, Ms. Korina, ‘di po nakakatuwa na mag-interview ka ng ganyang mga tao na ipinagmamalaki ang pagyaman nila ay pagiging contractor ng govt. through DPWH project. At ipinakikita pa sa interview mo ang lavish lifestyle nila. Si Mayor Vico po ay may prinsipyo at ‘di corrupt. You listen and understand well ang punto ng post niya. Sobrang defensive n’yo po, eh."
"A staff member for Korina said in a response that Korina only found out who she was interviewing on the day of the interview. C'mon… Knowing Korina, and yet she didn't know who she was going to interview."
"Tagalog-English naman ang post ni Mayor Vico, bakit hindi naintindihan ng kampo ni Korina?
“Mayor Vico didn’t directly accuse Korina nor Julius of a specific crime. What Vico did was point out a "practice" that famous journalists sometimes interview politicians or contractors in exchange for large payments. Vico framed it as an "ethical issue", he even said "maybe they didn't do anything technically illegal pero shameful". He mentioned the Php 10 million and clarified in the footnote. You're overstretching by saying "there is no such thing as a Php 10 million placement" because Vico never claimed there was. He said figuratively that large sums are being spent, then clarified in the footnote. Vico didn’t invent anything neither. The interviews are public, and the issues of paid "lifestyle features" is already a known discussion in media ethics. Vico Sotto's post was about media ethics and systemic corruption, not a personal attack nor insult meant to destroy someone's character."
"Sabi ng kampo ni Korina, simpleng kuwento lang daw ‘yun at walang ₱10M bayad. Pero ang mas malaking issue dito ay tiwala ng tao sa media... Kahit pa storytelling lang, kung nakakapagpabango ito sa mga may kaso ng corruption, nababawasan ang kredibilidad ng pamamahayag…”
“Dapat ang journalism ay para sa tao, hindi para sa makapangyarihan."
"Mayor Vico is regarded as one of the most trustworthy government officials, a leader whose integrity and genuine dedication to public service makes him truly dependable kaya kung anuman ang sabihin niya, lahat may basehan at katotohanan at naniniwala kami sa kanya, ‘di man kami taga-Pasig."
Nagbiro pa ang commenter, "Focus na lang kasi sa pagbibigay ng tsinelas. Para hindi nabubuking, PS, pahingi nga kami ng tsinelas."
