GMA Network’s Legal Department Chief Atty. Ma. Luz Delfin confirmed that Kapuso network also aired the anti-Duterte ad paid for by former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV during the Senate hearing.
Senator Grace Poe to GMA Network’s Atty Luz Delfin: “Yung supposed commercial na nilabas ng ABS-CBN, napalabas ‘yon ng dalawang araw sa GMA, pero nung nagsampa ng kaso for TRO, ‘di na inantay ng GMA ‘yung lumabas ng TRO, pinull-out na ninyo?”
Atty. Ma. Luz Delfin: “I don’t think we refused to air it after the case was filed, it was a call I think of our Marketing department not to air it anymore after that one.”
Poe continued: “The only difference between GMA and ABS-CBN, the former did not wait for the TRO’s decision to pull out the ads, its marketing department immediately eradicate the ads. While ABS-CBN was waiting for the TRO’s decision to consider as the legal basis to remove the negative ads against Duterte paid by Trillanes.
“In the interest of fairness, the reason why ABS-CBN aired this ad, it does not really go against the Omnibus Election Code and also of the Comelec as well as they’re not there to censor a legitimate ad, it’s just that it doesn’t violate any existing laws. Ito ay ipinalabas ng ABS, at ipinalabas rin ng GMA. Ang kaibahan ng GMA, ‘di na ninyo inintay ang desisyon ng korte dahil may nagsampa ng kaso, pinull-out na ninyo.”
ABS-CBN’s Presidential and Chief Executive Officer Carlo Katigbak stated that the Kapamilya network was just waiting for the TRO’s decision during that time before they have to pull out the ads paid by Trillanes.
“In our case, we just complied with the TRO that was served.”
2016 was a controversial year for ABS-CBN, as it was tagged as the worst station by netizens on Twitter.
After the negative ads against Duterte aired on ABS-CBN, netizens were so furious that they did not even bother checking that other networks also aired the ads. Luckily, there were still netizens who were able to point it out.
Here are the reactions of netizens as well as proof that it was not only the Kapamilya network which aired the negative ads paid for by Trillanes IV.
UPDATE: Hours after the Senate hearing for the ABS-CBN franchise renewal, the GMA Network first VP for Legal Affairs Atty. Ma. Luz Delfin released a clarification statement.
According to Atty. Delfin, GMA network did not air the anti-duterte advertisement that includes minor, it was disapproved by the network’s internal election committee.
Therefore, Atty. Delfin was referring to another political advertisement during the Senate hearing with Senator Grace Poe.
Statement of GMA First VP for Legal Affairs Atty. Ma. Luz Delfin
I wish to clarify my statement during the Senate Hearing on the ABS-CBN Franchise Renewal held earlier today, February 24, 2020. pic.twitter.com/tMHld0Ouit
— Kapuso PR Girl (@kapusoPRgirl) February 24, 2020
