Amid the controversy, the veteran broadcast journalist went abroad for a short break.
Through her Instagram account, Korina Sanchez-Roxas kept her followers, as well as onlookers, posted about her whereabouts in the midst of the controversy that stemmed from a recent social media post made by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto.
Dropping her photos after visiting the Hong Kong Disneyland, Korina posted in front of the park’s landmark castle and quipped, “My P10 Million Palace. Joke!“
Korina continued, “The happiest place on earth they say is Disneyland. Actually, the happiest place is peace of mind. In the midst of ignorant hate comes blessed calm knowing that good is in control if you allow it.”
The caption was a swipe at Mayor Sotto’s recent post, where he rhetorically asked how journalists think when they hear a person entering politics is willing to shell out money to be interviewed by them and gave PHP10 million as an example amount for the fee.
Sotto was pertaining to the interviews conducted by Sanchez and her fellow broadcaster, Julius Babao, with contractor and the Pasig mayoralty rival candidate in the May polls, Sarah Discaya.
“I know for a fact that there are many good, honest people in media who are disappointed, if not angered, at practices like this which undermine the integrity of their profession,” Sotto furthered.
Mayor Vico then went to say that, perhaps, the personalities that interviewed them may have not done “anything technically illegal,” but added that is should still be considered “shameful and violative of the spirit of their code of ethics.”
But he stood by his earlier point that journalists and news personalities rose to prominence with their reputation and credibility, which are also the same things that they lend to people, including corrupt figures.
“Let’s remember that corruption is systemic… it permeates into every sector of society, not just government. But we can slowly, but surely, break this cycle if more and more of us consistently do our part, wherever we are and whatever are position may be, one step at a time,” he ended his post.
In response, Sanchez and Babao have already denied the allegations through their respective statements.
A portion of the joint statement from ‘Rated Korina’ and ‘Korina Interviews’ read, “Yes, Mayor Sotto, there are payments for certain businesses such as that of the Discayas, products, personalities, companies or politicians much like payments made for advertisements — and these go to the network with an official receipt issued to the client.”
However, “There is no such thing as a P10 million placement for an interview. It is irresponsible to even say such, to say the least.”
“As your malice is posted on Facebook and publicly besmirches the reputation of Ms. Sanchez, this clearly constitutes cyber libel. To insinuate that our show is irresponsible in that we only air what is paid for is slanderous,” they added.
As of writing, Mayor Sotto has yet to post anything anew regarding this matter.