Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Marilyn Cahatol

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — On Aug. 21, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto alleged veteran journalists Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao of conducting a “paid” interview with Sarah and Curlee Discaya, questioning their reputation and credibility. </p><p>Sanchez and Babao’s sides both <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/22/broadcasters-deny-vico-sotto-claim-they-were-paid-p10m-to-interview-discayas-1724">refuted </a>the allegations, but the viral interviews raised questions about possible violations of ethics committed in the interviews. </p><p>A week later, Leyte 4th District Rep. Richard Gomez accused media workers who sought his comment of “<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/29/richard-gomez-claims-media-spin-after-reporters-sought-his-side-on-flood-issue-0838">media spin</a>” while publicly sharing private information and conversation, after Matag-ob, Leyte Mayor Bernie Tacoy&#x27;s allegations that he provides “limited support” to the local government amid the recent flooding.</p><p>The allegations against Filipino journalists caught the attention of media experts, practitioners, students and press freedom advocates, sparking fear that it would contribute to the erosion of public’s trust in the media. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>‘JOURNALISM SHOULD BE FOR PUBLIC, TRUTH’</strong></div><p>Assistant Professor Karol Ilagan, chair of the UP Department of Journalism, explained that journalism must be for the interest of the public and truth. </p><p>In the case of Sanchez and Babao’s interviews with the Discaya couple, she said, more aspects of their lives could have been questioned if the broadcasters used ‘critical lens.’</p><p>“Hindi sila regular people na we just feature kasi maybe interesting yung story ng kanilang buhay. Sila ay government contractor and a top contractor in that regard,” she said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/26/boc-to-probe-discaya-couple-s-luxury-car-collection-1420">Customs to probe Discaya couple’s luxury car collection</a></div><p>Sarah was also a candidate for the Pasig City mayoral post at the time of the interviews’ postings.</p><p>While the two broadcasters said the interviews were not meant to be campaign materials, Ilagan underscored that premature campaigning remains a rampant issue in the country. </p><p>“Yung paggamit ng ganitong platforms would make them… maraming ma-reach na mga tao,” she said. </p><p>The professor added that the broadcasters, being granted a chance to talk with the Discaya couple, should have asked the more critical questions surrounding their infrastructure firms and the competition in the contracting industry. </p><p>Fellow UP journalism professor Danilo Arao also said in a DZMM Teleradyo interview that questions should have already been asked when the couple mentioned borrowing their father’s license to bid for infrastructure projects. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/13/dpwh-probe-focuses-on-flood-control-projects-under-15-contractors-flagged-by-marcos-1046">DPWH probe focuses on flood control projects under 15 contractors flagged by Marcos</a></div><p>“This should have been followed up. There has to be more pressing questions, and in fact, this should be the main story in the Babao interview,” he said.  </p><p>Sarah, as a candidate for public office, should have been asked about her source and use of campaign finances and potential conflicts of interest, Ilagan said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2025/8/28/bir-begins-lifestyle-check-on-contractors-who-flaunt-lavish-assets-to-look-into-gov-t-officials-1501">BIR begins lifestyle check on contractors who ‘flaunt’ lavish assets, to look into gov’t officials next</a></div><p>“If it weren&#x27;t a lifestyle, dapat tiningnan natin lahat ng contractors na tatakbo in office hindi lang isa,” she said, calling the interviews a “missed opportunity.”</p><p>The College Editors Guild of the Philippines (CEGP) noted that featuring the couple’s life as a “lifestyle” content, as Babao argued in his statement, “turns these issues into mere spectacle and undermines its impact.”</p><p>“Journalists are not PR machines of the luxuries government officials have. Sanchez and Babao could have probed the Discayas and these anomalies, where they earned billions from DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) ghost projects,” CEGP said in an online interview. </p><p>Many argue that Sanchez and Babao could have disclosed the interviews as an advertorial, or a paid advertisement packed as news. But Ilagan said this still remains problematic, as not all viewers understand the concept of paid sponsorships. </p><p>Advertorial, she added, serves the interest of the advertiser and not the public. </p><p>Kristian Paulo Fuentes, president of the student organization UP Broadcasters’ Guild, also said that journalists utilizing social media platforms like YouTube should ensure accurate presentation of facts and its context to avoid being used for propaganda.</p><p>“The main problem naman of digital platforms nowadays is the susceptibility to contain information that is misleading or blatantly built with propaganda, and these are the main villains that we should fight,” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/25/interviews-with-discayas-not-just-about-media-ethics-journalism-prof-1328">Interviews with Discayas not just about media ethics - journalism prof</a></div><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1oG077VHwv4?si=ojcwmmul78tOijws" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>GOMEZ AND ‘HIS MEDIA SPIN’</strong></div><p>Meanwhile, Ilagan said that Gomez’s accusation of ‘media spin’ against journalists who sought his comment was “his own media spin.”</p><p>“Hindi ba siya ang s-spin ngayon kasi iniiba niya yung usapan when dapat sagutin niya yung tanong,” she said.</p><p>“As readers and observers, maging critical din tayo kasi iniiba yung usapan. Ang issue ay flood-control sa Leyte, pero biglang ang issue ay accusing reporters of media spin,” she added.</p><p>Ilagan and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines both highlighted that the actor-turned-congressman should have realized that the media’s request for interview was in his favor, as it was his chance to address the allegations made by the mayor.</p><div><br/></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/f5j-k8FIGBE?si=mL5wVTaf35GsKM5G" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" spellcheck="false"></iframe><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>EROSION OF TRUST IN MEDIA FEARED TO FURTHER WORSEN WORKING CONDITIONS</strong></div><p>Allegations against journalists concerned media students, advocates and educators, saying this exacerbates the already looming public distrust in journalists.</p><p>Pajo Albano, journalism student and president of the UP Journalism Club, said Sanchez and Babao’s coverage of the Discaya couple has “blurred the line between journalism and political promotion,” failing to meet the public expectations of journalistic integrity. </p><p>“Their actions undermine trust in media at a time when credibility is already fragile, and this shows why ethical standards must be consistently upheld, regardless of personal or institutional affiliations,” he added.</p><p>Professor Ilagan noted that the issues also come alongside the country’s political context, social media dominance over mass media, disinformation, and the low wages in media industry. </p><p>For Andre Esguerra, journalism student and editor-in-chief of the student publication Tinig ng Plaridel, Sanchez and Babao&#x27;s actions caused the most damage not to them, but to the underpaid media workers who would bear the brunt of the public’s dwindling trust in media. </p><p>“Korina and Julius may be among the more privileged journalists paid higher than most and, thus, less economically affected by their actions, but what about the majority of underpaid media workers?” he said. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/8/19/14th-month-pay-in-private-sector-bill-filed-at-house-1633">14th month pay in private sector bill filed at House</a></div><p>“If public readership of media dwindles further due to the damage our industry&#x27;s credibility has sustained, it&#x27;s them bound to bear the brunt,” he added. </p><p>CEGP also said it is the media students who will face the eroding public trust “due to corruption, lacking observance of core principles and ethical standards, and degrading working conditions.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/2/press-freedom-in-ph-improved-but-global-state-of-journalists-falls-to-difficult-for-first-time-1537">Press freedom in PH improves but global state of journalists falls to &#x27;difficult&#x27; for first time</a></div><p>While all three students interviewed by ABS-CBN News showed interest in building a career in media, some expressed concern about the financial capability, or the lack of, they would gain in media. </p><p>“The bottomline is, I have a life I need to provide for, and the moment my career can no longer ensure basic goods for myself is the moment I&#x27;ll have to consider other industries to shift to,” said Albano. </p><p>CEGP underscored that the fight for editorial independence is tied to the call for higher wages, media protection, and autonomy. </p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/technology/2025/8/10/meta-disables-alternative-media-outlet-bulatlat-s-instagram-page-1422">Meta disables alternative media outlet Bulatlat’s Instagram page</a></div><p>“The worsening political climate affirms the campus press of their choice to whom they shall profess their reportage—to the broader masses. We challenge media practitioners, the majority of whom were once student journalists, to not forget that,” said CEGP.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/10/-free-frenchie-mae-cumpio-1535">PHOTO: &#x27;Free Frenchie Mae Cumpio&#x27;</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div style="text-align:center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6qdQkef6z0w?si=_L9oeCtyQoJQhKte" title="YouTube video player" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe><br/></div>

<p>UP journalism professor Danilo Arao said in a DZMM Teleradyo interview that questions should have been asked when the couple mentioned borrowing their father’s license to bid for infrastructure projects.</p>

UP journalism professor Danilo Arao said in a DZMM Teleradyo interview that questions should have been asked when the couple mentioned borrowing their father’s license to bid for infrastructure projects.

UP journalism profs say Discaya couple should have faced critical questions

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UP journalism profs say Discaya couple should have faced critical questions

Marilyn Cahatol,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 30, 2025 04:52 PM PHT

Read More:

Media

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Richard Gomez

Korina Sanchez

Julius Babao

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