Senator Kiko Pangilinan recently demanded a public apology from the hosts of a Net 25 program who brought up his wife, actress Sharon Cuneta, in discussions over the ongoing investigation on ghost flood control projects.
The issue stemmed from a segment from the network’s program “Sa Ganang Mamamayan,” where Senate Blue Ribbon Committee chair Senator Dante Marcoleta appeared as a guest.
It focused on Pangilinan’s supposed proposal to establish an independent body to probe alleged corruption in flood control projects, an investigation already under the jurisdiction of Marcoleta’s Blue Ribbon Committee.
This prompted one of the program’s hosts mention of Pangilinan’s wife, suggesting that she intervened in her husband’s stance.
“Baka nakikinig po kayo Madam Sharon Cuneta. Pakikausap naman po n’yo naman po si Senador Kiko Pangilinan. Baka po pwede mapakiusapan mo na bakit mo naman memenosin ‘yung Blue Ribbon Committee, sa pangunguna po ni Rodante Marcoleta, na bubuo pa ng isang komite? Baka pwede hong sabihin n’yo magbitaw ka nalang d’yan sa Blue Ribbon Committee, umalis ka d’yan para naman hindi nakakasira, nakakainsulto ‘yung ginawa mo,” host Gen Subardiaga said.
The topic, however, was “misconstrued,” as the proposal actually came from Senate Minority Leader Vicente “Tito” Sotto, with Pangilinan merely voicing his support.
On Monday, Sept. 1, Pangilinan responded with an official press release, calling out the program and its anchors for what he described as “disrespectful” and “insulting” remarks against Cuneta, who has no involvement in the Senate’s proceedings.
“Sa management ng Net 25: Tama ba na sa pagbatikos sa akin ng inyong mga anchors na sina Nelson Lubao at Gen Subardiaga sa programang ‘Sa Ganang Mamamayan,’ kung saan naging guest ninyo si Senador Dante Marcoleta, ay dinawit ninyo ang aking maybahay na si Sharon na wala namang kinalaman sa usapin ng kurakot sa flood control?” wrote Pangilinan.
“Binastos ng programang ito si Sharon at sinaktan ninyo ang kanyang kalooban kahit na nananahimik siya at walang kinalaman sa issue ng korupsyon. Ito ba ay upang mapag-usapan at dumami ang inyong viewership?” Pangilinan slammed the segment.
“Tama ba na idawit ang isang inosenteng taong walang kinalaman sa official business ng Senado at gawing katawa-tawa ang kanyang pagkatao sa publiko? Ano ba ang ginawa ni Sharon sa inyong istasyon at sa mga anchorpersons, at binastos ninyo ang kanyang pagkatao? Hindi ganito ang mga propesyunal na mga broadcaster,” he added.
Pangilinan questioned the newsmen’s professionalism and demanded an apology from both the network and the program’s anchors.
“She deserves a public apology from Net 25 and your anchorpersons,” he declared. “Huwag ninyong idinadawit ang mga inosente at binabastos lalo na ang mga asawa ng mga Senador na wala naman kinalaman sa mga usapin sa Senado.”
Following the senator’s outcry, one of the program’s anchors, Nelson Lubao, released a statement apologizing to Cuneta the next day.
“During our program, we had an intense discussion with Senator Dante Marcoleta, Chairman of the Blue Ribbon Committee, regarding the investigation into anomalous flood control projects. He expressed feeling insulted by the statements of Senator Kiko Pangilinan, a committee member. My co-anchor, Gen Subardiaga, made a direct, public call to Ms. Sharon Cuneta, asking her to speak with her husband about resigning from the committee,” Lubao explained the situation.
“Senator Pangilinan has labeled this act ‘pambabastos.’ Whether our method of commentary meets that specific definition is a matter of opinion and debate. However, what is not debatable is the result. Senator Pangilinan has publicly stated that his wife was hurt by our words, and I take him at his word. For that, there is no debate,” he acknowledged their fault.
Apologizing to the veteran singer, Lubao wrote, “On behalf of our program, and from myself personally, I extend our deepest apologies to Ms. Sharon Cuneta for the pain and distress this has caused. Our goal is to foster sharp debate, not to inflict personal wounds.
Since our program was the cause of your hurt, we are truly and profoundly sorry.”
Nelson further defended the program’s intent, saying their remarks aimed to highlight a “political contradiction” in Pangilinan’s “conflicting stance,” arguing that the senator’s response relied on an “appeal to pity” by focusing on his wife’s hurt instead of addressing the current political issue.
He stressed that distinguishing media ethics from political accountability is important, but ultimately acknowledged that the hurt caused to Cuneta is “what matters most.”
