Koko Pimentel advises PTV-4 to avoid 'sensationalism'

Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel on Tuesday reminded the state-run People's Television Network Inc. to avoid "sensationalism" in delivering news reports.

During the Senate hearing on the proposed P1.59 billion budget of the Presidential Communications Operations Office and its attached agencies for 2021, Pimentel hinted at an apparent personal issue with PTV-4.

"In the delivery of your news, try to avoid sensationalism. Baka kako you feel some pressure to compete with the other news channels, you need attention, you need some sort... you use some shocking or provoking alarming words to attract viewership or our audience," he said.

"That's my advice, ma'am, kasi I think your office received a letter from one of my lawyers," he added.

People's Television Network Inc. general manager Katherine Chloe De Castro asked permission if she could explain what happened during "that time", but the senator opted not to delve into it.

"Never mind, just answer my lawyers," he said.

De Castro replied in the affirmative and added that an erratum was also issued about it.

The senator moved on to another topic after the exchange with the PTV-4.

Pimentel was among the four senators who got infected with COVID-19 earlier this year.

He drew criticism in March for alleged breach of quarantine protocols when he accompanied his then pregnant wife to a hospital despite his pending test result for COVID-19.

While in the hospital, Pimentel said he received a call from the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine on his COVID-positive status, prompting him to immediately leave the premises. He announced his health condition to the public the following day.

A criminal complaint has been filed against the senator over the incident.—AOL, GMA News