Broadcast journalist and TV host Korina Sanchez seemed unfazed by the controversy linking her name to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto’s allegations, as she flew to Hong Kong on Friday, August 23, for her show ‘Face to Face Harapan’.
On Instagram, Sanchez posted an airport OOTD photo with her luggage, sharing her excitement to meet overseas Filipino workers.
“Egzoooited to meet our dear OFWs as Face to Face goes to HONGKONG! Here we come!!! Mabuhay!” she captioned.
In the comments, a netizen made a playful request: “Madam @korina sana pagbalik n’yo si Mayor @vicosotto naman ang ka face to face n’yo. Safe Travels.”
Korina’s reaction? A lighthearted “Hahaha.”
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The timing of Korina’s trip comes as she faces public scrutiny over Mayor Vico’s Facebook post alleging that contractors-turned-political aspirants Curlee and Sarah Discaya paid ₱10 million for their interviews with her shows Rated Korina and Korina Interviews. Sarah Discaya was Vico’s opponent in the May 2025 Pasig mayoral elections.
In response, the management of Sanchez’s programs released an open letter addressed to Mayor Vico, firmly denying the accusation.
“There is no such thing as a P10 Million placement for an interview. This is simply not true. Malicious insinuations posted on Facebook, and which publicly besmirches the reputation of our shows or Ms. Sanchez, clearly constitute cyber libel,” read the joint statement signed by ‘Rated Korina’ EP Ferdie Dugay and ‘Korina Interviews’ EP Catherine Torres Lulu.
The producers emphasized that their shows select interviewees based on public interest, not payment, and that they do not produce “hit pieces” or “vanity pieces.”
“In the case of the Sara and Curlee Discaya interview, pinaguusapan sila. Their sudden prominence in the public eye makes for public interest. We do not presume our interviewees as evil nor as angels. Their rags-to-riches life story is their story to tell. It was aired walang dagdag at walang bawas,” the statement continued.
They also revealed that the programs had previously featured Vico’s own relatives—including Senator Tito Sotto, Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, and MTRCB Chairperson Lala Sotto—and that they had repeatedly reached out to Vico himself for interviews, which he declined.
“All content aired is transparent and meets the strict standards of the airing stations and is approved by the station management,” the producers assured.
The statement concluded with a reminder on accountability in public discourse: “While we fully respect freedom of speech and opinion and the platforms in which these are aired and posted, there is such a thing as thoughtful restraint, which benefits truth and fairness.”
As of now, Mayor Vico has yet to respond directly to the programs’ open letter.
