Journalists Defend Interviews with Contractor-Candidate Amid Bribery Allegations
Pasig City, Philippines – Prominent journalists are defending interviews conducted with Sarah Discaya, a contractor now running for mayor of Pasig City, after current Mayor vico Sotto publicly questioned the ethics of accepting interviews from individuals seeking office adn alleged a potential payment of ₱10 million for the features. The controversy centers around interviews conducted by Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao, aired before Discaya formally announced her candidacy.
Sotto shared screenshots of the interviews on social media Thursday, questioning why seasoned journalists would agree to interview a contractor actively pursuing a political position. He suggested a financial incentive may have been involved, stating, “Wait, why is this person willing to give 10 million just to be interviewed by me?” and characterizing such arrangements as “shameful” and a violation of journalistic ethics. He clarified the ₱10 million figure was not precise but represented the nature of the alleged transactions.
Both Sanchez and Babao have vehemently denied any wrongdoing.Producers of Sanchez’s show emphasized that Discaya and her husband, Curlee, had recently gained public attention, making them a subject of legitimate public interest. They stated the interview focused on the couple’s “rags-to-riches” story and was presented “without additions or omissions.” They also confirmed that the Discayas were prohibited from using the interview footage for campaign purposes and that the interview aired prior to the official campaign period.
Babao, in an interview with Pep.ph’s Jojo Gabinete, similarly asserted the 2024 interview was not politically motivated. “It was a profile feature of a couple who rose from rags to riches because of their different business ventures,” he explained. He also denied the ₱10 million allegation, stating the Discayas had not expressed any political ambitions at the time of the interview and were simply seeking to share their success story.
The journalists and producers further emphasized that all content aired adhered to the strict standards of the broadcasting stations and received approval from station management. Sotto acknowledged the existence of ethical journalists within the media landscape but expressed disappointment at practices that could undermine the profession’s integrity.
The controversy highlights growing concerns about potential conflicts of interest in media coverage during the lead-up to the 2025 elections and raises questions about the boundaries between journalism and political influence.