ABS-CBN chief commits to give public officials chance to air their side

ABS-CBN president and CEO Carlo Katigbak on Monday assured that public officials will be given a chance to air their side on any issue involving them in the network's news platforms.

Katigbak made the commitment during the continuation of the House joint panel hearings on the ABS-CBN franchise issue.

"As of now, I would like to make a public commitment that any public official will be given airtime on ABS-CBN to express their side on any issue that is being raised against them," he said.

"That is a commitment by the owners, by the management, and we are instructing our organization today to take note of this instruction," he added.

Katigbak made the remark after Cavite Representative Abraham Tolentino accused ABS-CBN of being unfair in its coverage of the senatorial bid of his brother, Senator Francis Tolentino.

He complained that it was difficult to have their side aired on ABS-CBN in the issues they are involved in.

Apart from Tolentino, House Minority Leader Benny Abante also raised morality concerns on some of the content being aired on ABS-CBN shows.

With this, ABS-CBN COO for Broadcast Cory Vidanes said that the network will continue embodying Filipino values in its shows and committed to make changes in its programming if it is granted another franchise.

“Rest assured po na iisa po ang ating layunin na mapangalagaan ang moral at spiritual values ng pamilyang Pilipino. We tell po stories that teach life lessons and our stories po embody Filipino values, like hardwork, honesty, respect, resilience, and most of all love for family, country, and God, dahil ang sentro ng aming mga kwento ay ang pamilyang Pilipino,” she said.

“We will continue to be responsible content producers that make a positive influence in the lives of the Filipino. Maganda po ang hangarin namin. We want to entertain, inspire, and give hope to the Filipino audience,” she added. —LDF, GMA News