ANC host Karmina Constantino slammed presidential candidate Jose Montemayor Jr. after the latter insinuated that Manila mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso paid news outlets, including ANC.
In the CNN Philippines Presidential Debate on February 27, Montemayor claimed that Domagoso received 15 million dollars in campaign funds from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates.
Montemayor mentioned that this news was all over the papers even though Domagoso denied this.
During the ANC interview on March 1, Karmina Constantino asked about Montemayor’s claims about Domagoso’s campaign funds.
When asked about where he got the information, Montemayor answered, “Well, my sources, I will not reveal at this point unless there is a court order.”
The ANC host then questioned Montemayor’s statement as he two different sources.
“Doctor Montemayor you said that it was all over the papers, but now you are telling us that sources have told you about this. Which one should we believe?” said Constantino.
Montemayor answered that his claims were only the “opinion of the media”. He later insinuated that Isko Moreno has paid ANC — a claim that offended Constantino.
“Well, if you would just research, especially if you’re in the media, you should have known better, unless Isko Moreno paid ANC and ABS-CBN,” said Montemayor.
Constantino then noted that ANC and herself, as a journalist, never received any form of payment regarding the questions they asked.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to let that pass. Doctor Montemayor we are not in the business of getting paid. I am personally insulted by that insinuation. We can go on with this interview, we can leave this topic aside and move on, but let me tell you, this is not an insinuation that I will take lightly.”
“This company is not in the business of getting paid. This journalist has never been—or ever will be—paid by anyone to ask or not to ask questions,” she answered.
Constantino then proceeded with the question, “What kind of leader will you be if you believe in fake news?”
Montemayor asked if the question was a personal question which Constantino simply replied saying, “It’s a question.”
