[Vantage Point] Vico Sotto’s problem to information media — and the strains journalists mustn’t cross

The Nationwide Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP) not too long ago issued an official assertion amid the raging debate on media ethics regarding Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto’s Fb (Meta) submit that took a swipe at media practitioners lending their respective platforms for a payment to questionable characters. 

In accordance with the NUJP, colleagues within the business must be reminded “that soliciting and accepting cash, presents and different types of compensation in change for favorable protection threatens editorial independence.”

Mayor Sotto not too long ago shared his views on the earlier interviews that featured Sarah Discaya, who ran for mayor within the final election that Sotto received, and her husband Curlee Discaya, a contractor. The interviews, performed individually by veteran broadcasters Julius Babao and Korina Sanchez, have drawn intense consideration on-line.

Sotto inspired the general public to mirror on the moral points that will come up when personalities with political ambitions seem in interviews that contain vital sponsorship or monetary preparations. He wrote: “With these interviews once more going viral, let’s take a look at it from a special angle… Bago tanggapin ng mga kilalang journalists ang alok para mag-interview ng contractor na pumapasok sa politika, hindi ba nila naisip na, ‘Uy teka, ba’t kaya handa ’to magbigay ng 10 million determine?’” (Earlier than well-known journalists settle for the supply of a contractor wishing to affix politics, didn’t they ask themselves why this contractor can be keen to fork out a 10-million determine?)

Sotto, nonetheless, cautioned that he was not sure of the particular quantity concerned, however set P10 million for instance as an example his level.

Sanchez and Babao have lashed again on the younger mayor, denying that funds have been made for the interviews. Sanchez threatened Sotto with a cyber-libel swimsuit.

The NUJP assertion reads: “It additionally erodes belief in our occupation and in its practitioners and performs into the narrative that journalism may be purchased and bought, undermining its crucial position as a watchdog in opposition to corruption, whether or not in authorities or the personal sector.”

What we all know

The interviews, which had been aired in Sanchez’s and Babao’s respective YouTube channels, have gained monumental public curiosity. Renewed curiosity in them might be as a result of Senate probe into corruption in failed flood management initiatives.

The Discayas figured prominently in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s listing of prime Division of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) contractors. To name their file “suspect” is an understatement. The couple has cornered a lion’s share of those initiatives, angering the general public who must undergo the results of ineffective flood management buildings two Discaya-linked corporations constructed.

Variety of initiatives:

• Alpha & Omega Normal Contractor & Improvement Corp. (owned by the Discayas) ranks among the many prime 15 contractors by variety of flood-control initiatives nationwide.
• St. Timothy Building Corporatio., one other agency linked to the Discayas, additionally ranks extremely. St. Timothy has 105 flood management initiatives.

Complete worth of contracts:

• The entire flood-control funds from July 2022 to Could 2025 is P545 billion, of which P100 billion (about 20%) went to the highest 15 contractors.
• Amongst these prime corporations, Alpha & Omega and St. Timothy are included, however particular quantities per firm weren’t disclosed within the publicly accessible experiences.

Sanchez and Babao described their respective Discaya interviews as “inspiring rags-to-riches tales” that had been handled as life-style options deserving of air time. In gentle of the present probe on corruption relating to the failed flood management initiatives of the DPWH, it’s stunning that the 2 program hosts can be dumbfounded by the violent response of the viewers to the Discaya’s featured tales.

‘Wealth porn’

What they confirmed was revolting, to say the least. I personally nearly puked watching how this household confirmed off their opulent residence and a few 40-plus imported luxurious automobiles of their giant storage, all of which I estimate to have price not less than P200 million. Each Sanchez and Babao aired what I’d take into account “wealth porn,” the Discaya’s shameless and disgusting ostentation.

When Babao requested Sarah Discaya when precisely the household’s fortunes rose, she stated, “once we began doing initiatives with the DPWH.” The admission alone ought to have raised a crimson flag and merited extra probing or clarificatory questions. Sadly, none was forthcoming. That change positively left a foul style within the mouth.

Clearly, the Discayas bought their life story to the 2 broadcasters. The Sanchez camp inadvertently admitted so, though not for P10 million.

At the moment a co-production with ABS-CBN after its host, Korina Sanchez, signed a brand new deal in July 2023, the information journal present Rated Korina airs on ABS-CBN platforms, together with Kapamilya Channel. As co-producer, Sanchez enjoys extra management over this system’s content material. 

Korina’s now-deleted reply

An earlier and now-deleted model of the Sanchez camp’s reply to Mayor Sotto’s Meta submit had acknowledged that some characteristic tales of their present Rated Korina are paid, likening them to ads dealt with by the community.

Particularly, the Rated Korina group stated of their assertion: “When this interview was performed it was nicely earlier than marketing campaign interval, aired in November 2024 and January 2025. Sure, Mayor Sotto, there are funds for sure companies comparable to that of the Discayas, merchandise, personalities, corporations or politicians very like funds made for ads — and these go to the community with an official receipt issued to the consumer.”  

The Discaya episode could have been initially broadcast nicely earlier than the marketing campaign interval, however Sanchez and Sarah Discaya’s dialogue typically segued to the latter’s mayoral bid. Sarah’s then-impending candidacy meant their St Timothy’s Building was additionally within the highlight. The agency was a part of the consortium that bagged an P18-billion contract to ship the 2025 elections’ automated counting machines.

That is the place Mayor Sotto was coming from in his submit on Meta. The Discaya camp mounted a demolition marketing campaign in opposition to him over the past elections and the airing of the interviews was meant to showcase the Discayas’ monumental wealth which their camp had hoped would tilt the political tide of their favor. (READ: Pretend accounts, damaging campaigning fire up Pasig mayoral race)

The Discayas have clearly underestimated Pasig Metropolis voters. How may the household flaunt their wealth with out disgrace, whereas repeatedly skirting problems with non-payment of enterprise taxes to the Pasig authorities? Sotto stated the quantity concerned is in billions of pesos of unpaid enterprise taxes linked to the Discayas’ flood-control contracts. The precise quantity owed, nonetheless, stays unspecified in public information.

Strains journalists by no means cross

This example brings into sharp focus a number of key tenets of the Journalist’s Code of Ethics within the Philippines. The code explicitly states that journalists “shall not let private motives or pursuits affect [them] within the efficiency of [their] duties; nor shall [they] settle for or supply any current, reward or different consideration of a nature which can solid doubt on [their] skilled integrity.”

Moreover, the code emphasizes the significance of distinguishing between information and promoting. Whereas each Sanchez and Babao have careers that blur the strains between exhausting information and life-style options, the context of a political determine being the topic of a paid interview raises issues about whether or not the viewers can clearly differentiate between sponsored content material and a real journalistic inquiry.

There are strains in journalism that seasoned broadcasters ought to by no means cross. Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao know these strains. They’ve constructed their careers on credibility, on the idea that once they communicate, they’re guided by equity, rigor, and duty.

That’s the reason their previous interviews with the Discaya household had been peculiar — a humiliation, to say the least, and probably, an outright breach of journalistic ethics.

Sotto’s critique faucets into a bigger concern: do such interviews blur the road between journalism and advertorial content material? He identified the problematic optics of media professionals lending their popularity to figures beneath corruption scrutiny — even when the work they produce is framed as a “life-style” phase.

There are deeper implications.

Style confusion. Life-style segments typically occupy a twilight zone between leisure and information. Broadcast media, TV particularly, have a powerful likelihood of reaching viewers who could not even be actively in search of out political info. Publicity to political adverts — particularly those who masquerade as characteristic tales — can considerably affect voter intention and help for political candidates. Data coated in emotional appeals turn out to be extra harmful. With out clear disclaimers or clear context, audiences could misread motivations or authenticity.

Public belief. Media credibility is fragile. Allegations of hidden agendas, even when unproven, can erode public religion in journalism, particularly when tied to political contexts.

Want for disclosure. Moral journalism calls for readability on sponsorships, particularly when interview topics are embroiled in scandal or political ambitions.

As of now, there may be neither public proof of the P10 million declare being substantiated, nor any authorized motion filed. The talk has raised key questions:

• Ought to media figures keep away from profiling people at present beneath public investigation — or political scrutiny — to keep away from perceived bias?
• How should life-style journalism differentiate itself from editorial or paid content material?
• And critically, when public figures stage such accusations, what requirements of proof ought to they meet to take care of civic discourse with out descending into defamation?

This controversy highlights a permanent rigidity: media personalities’ duty to protect credibility, and the general public’s position in scrutinizing how narratives are formed.

Vico Sotto’s name isn’t merely a political jab; it’s a problem to the media to mirror on and cling to boundaries that safeguard moral journalism in an period the place each body may be politicized. – Rappler.com