The leader of the so-called ?evil people? of ABS-CBN News has finally spoken.

In the heat of the last Presidential campaign, Kris Aquino described the news team of her home network in those less-than-friendly words, after her young son James? ?Villar? boo-boo was aired on ?TV Patrol.?

?In front of 15,000 people, this little kid blurted out the name of the political opponent of her brother (Noynoy, who eventually won),? recalled Maria Ressa, senior vice president of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs and managing director of the ABS-CBN News Channel.

The incident was reported, Ressa said, ?because it happened.? When she learned of Aquino?s displeasure, ?I had a talk with her. I tried to explain that we didn?t mean to hurt her feelings and even though she felt hurt, it was still news.?

They also reported on Aquino?s ?evil people? quip, Ressa said, but on the same day, they aired a story about erstwhile Kapamilya Willie Revillame?s criticism that ABS-CBN News had been ?biased? against his candidate, Manny Villar. She has learned not to be bothered by intrigues like these, Ressa told Inquirer. ?Everyone?s entitled to his or her opinion, but I can always respond with facts.?

She is aware of the criticism that ABS-CBN had favored the campaign of President Noynoy Aquino?P-Noy to fans. ?But an independent monitoring group, the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility, stated that ABS-CBN didn?t have bias in its coverage,? she countered. ?All I ask is for critics to look at the facts, story by story.?

Independent

That said, just how is the network planning to cover the P-Noy presidency? ?The [same] way we covered the past President,? was Ressa?s quick reply. ?First, we have to make a distinction between news and entertainment. News is independent from the rest of ABS-CBN. We are an activist news organization. Our job is to hold the public and the private sectors accountable to the people.?

That in mind, it shouldn?t surprise people in power if media becomes critical, she said. ?Our job is to report, not to please politicians and celebrities. When you become President, a bull?s eye is [virtually drawn] on you. You can?t be onion-skinned when you?re staying in Malacañang.?

The same goes for the President?s relatives?who now include Kris Aquino, a Kapamilya talent. ?Kris is no longer just an entertainment personality,? Ressa pointed out. ?She?s also a political figure now. We will handle her just like any other story.? In the same vein, however, Ressa cautioned, ?We have to learn, as a society, to elevate the debate beyond personalities.?

But what about infotainment? ?It?s a tough balancing act,? she admitted, ?to give people what they want and what they need at the same time.?

Another source of post-election speculation is whether Korina Sanchez and Noli de Castro would return as anchors on ?Bandila? and ?TV Patrol,? respectively. Sanchez is the wife of defeated vice-presidential candidate Mar Roxas. De Castro was vice president in the past administration.

?First off,? Ressa said, ?I?m very happy with the present anchors. Korina hasn?t spoken to me about [returning to the newscast]. I think she?s figuring out her next step. A good rule of thumb to follow is the government policy: If you run, or if you campaign, you should take a year off.?

She elaborated: ?[So soon after that] very partisan process, I cannot imagine Korina reporting on Vice President Jejomar Binay.?

Or Roxas? electoral protest. ?That would be a case of conflict of interest,? Ressa said. ?Meanwhile, Korina will continue to be seen on her magazine show, ?Rated K.??

No plans

As for De Castro, ?I will give the same answer,? said Ressa. ?I am very happy with our present anchors.?

Will De Castro?s old program, ?Magandang Gabi Bayan,? return on air? ?We have no concrete plans right now,? said Ressa. ?Though it?s produced by a block timer, that show would still fall under Current Affairs. We need to reassess the situation. The viewing population is young; they?ve known Noli as vice president.?

De Castro returns to radio today?which doesn?t seem to sit all that well with Ressa. Whether as TV or radio personalities, she said, De Castro and Sanchez are expected to abide by the company?s code of ethics. "There is a need for transition. Radio is also news. Anything that contributes to the political debate is something that needs to be discussed. Maybe after a year, we can revisit. Life changes quickly in this country, doesn?t it? Who knows what will happen next??

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