Joey: ‘I brought no shame in my stint with ABS-CBN’

Veteran comedian Joey de Leon said Saturday that during his stint as an ABS-CBN talent in the pre-martial law days, he brought no dishonor to the network.

De Leon talked about his past with the Lopez-owned broadcasting firm in an interview with Startalk, where he also announced that he has rejected the apology of Willie Revillame. According to Joey, he cannot accept the apology because the Wowowee host did not meet his conditions. “Sorry, hindi ko matatanggap ang sorry mo," De Leon said on Startalk where he is one of the co-hosts. He added: “Kailangan gawin nyo ‘yun. Alam ko baka maging katawa-katawa sa iba pero seryoso ako dun. Pag ginawa n’yo ‘yun wala na, palalagpasin ko na lahat ng nasabi n’yo kahit nasiraan na ako sa iba ng pangalan." In an interview with other Startalk hosts Lolit Solis, Lorna Tolentino and Butch Francisco, De Leon said the conditions he set in his meeting with Movie and Television Review and Classifications Board (MTRCB) chairman Marissa Laguardia were reasonable. “Ang hiniling ko talaga kumpleto, kung napanood n’yo sabi ko, gagawin niya uli yung sinabi niya kaya lang kabaligtaran. Wala nang pag-akusa at hiniling ko talaga na meron ding dalawang nakatayo dito na dalawang co-host na umiiyak. Seryoso ako nun. Kailangan ganun din, yung babae dito at dito umiiyak din habang nagso-sorry siya sa akin," he said. He said he knows that Laguardia will not approve his decision. “Alam ko medyo magtatampo na naman sa akin si Chairman dito pero ‘yun naman ang pinag-usapan natin e," he said. “OK na parang larong bata lang to, pinitik mo tenga ko, pipitikin kita, tabla na tayo, kalimutan na. Basta gawin n’yo yun humarap kayo uli. Mag-sorry kayo kahit tatlong Joey de Leon na lang, medyo lagpas sa tatlo yun e. 0K lang, ang importante sa akin may dalawa ritong umiiyak na co-host. Kailangan ko yun," he said. De Leon said if he were the one who made the mistake he would say sorry at once. “Kung ako gagawin ko e. Kung ako may ginawang kasalanan oo gagawin ko bakit hindi anong masama dun…Pinaabot pa ng 15 araw e kalahating buwan ‘yun," he said. He further said if his decision would elicit reactions other than the apologies he wanted, he would definitely shoot back. “At kung meron pang mga reaction na mangyayari this week, ayaw man naming gawin komiks, hindi ko naman gusto to e, pero sasagutin ko pa rin," he said. However, if he finally gets the apologies he deserves, he will thank them. “Kung nagawa nila yung hiling ko, talaga ako mismo magpapasalamat. May luha o wala, magpapasalamat ako…salamat at naging sport kayo," he said. He clarified that the rift between him and Revillame does not concern GMA Network and ABS-CBN. He said that those itching to malign him to ABS-CBN bigwigs should better think twice. “Inuulit ko hindi po labanan ng networks ito. ‘Wag n’yong sirain ako sa dati kong himpilan o sa mga kaibigan ko dun at mga hinahangaan o nirerespeto kong mga tao dun," he said. “Hindi n’yo ako pwedeng siraan d’yan, mahal ko yang istasyon na yan, pinanggalingan ko yan at nakaukit ang pangalan ko d’yan dahil yung mga nakaulit, mga walang dinalang kahihiyan sa istasyon yang mga yan. Tutuo po, Johnny de Leon, yung mga ganung pangalan, mahal kami ng network na ‘yan ng tatlong henerasyon mula sa lolo, sa ama at sa anak inabutan ko lahat yan, so mahal ko yan. Hindi kami ang pag-awayin nyo ang sagutin n’yo yung kasalanan ng ibang personalidad d’yan na nagdala ng kahihiyan." He added: “Ito po ay nasa level lang ng mga maliliit na personalidad at trabahador at empleyadong katulad ko sa ganitong trabaho." - GMANews.TV