Charles Teves
ANC host Karmina Constantino confronted presidential aspirant Jose Montemayor after he suggested that ABS-CBN is on the payroll of certain politicians.
At the CNN Philippines presidential debate on February 27, Montemayor accused Manila Mayor Isko Moreno of accepting 15 million dollars from Microsoft’s Bill Gates.
“Eh paano naman po yung 15 million dollars ni Bill Gates, isosoli niyo po ba iyon?” he asked when Moreno was addressing the concern of pocketing campaign funds which he admitted to doing in 2016 when he was running for Senate.
Montemayor said his claim was “all over the papers” but won’t reveal his sources “at this point unless there is a court order” when asked by Constantino where he got the information during a March 1 interview.
Constantino asked how can the public take Montemayor’s claim seriously when he just contradicted himself.
“Doctor Montemayor you said that it was all over the papers, but now you are telling us that sources have told you about this. Which one should we believe?”
Montemayor then insinuated that maybe Moreno could also be paying news outlets.
“Well, if you would just research, especially if you’re in the media, you should have known better, unless Isko Moreno paid ANC and ABS-CBN,” he accused.
Constantino felt offended and confronted Montemayor.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to let that pass. Doctor Montemayor we are not in the business of getting paid. I am personally insulted by that insinuation. We can go on with this interview, we can leave this topic aside and move on, but let me tell you, this is not an insinuation that I will take lightly.
“This company is not in the business of getting paid. This journalist has never been—or ever will be—paid by anyone to ask or not to ask questions,” she said.
Netizens praised Constantino’s decision to call out the presidential aspirant.
🔥@ConstantKC https://t.co/9mqvghxVCU
— Jeff Canoy (@jeffcanoy) March 1, 2022
https://twitter.com/XaveGregorio/status/1498579960898125825?s=20&t=MCnihrkW8qrD_4PL70uH0Q
Montemayor left an impression as a more aggressive candidate during the debate. Leody Guzman likening him to former senator Bongbong Marcos.
https://twitter.com/FDPascual/status/1498577088919617539?s=20&t=nloAOWvfkSmq19PZ2EGssA
So typical of someone who spreads fake news. When confronted, iba pa ang bayaran. Sheesh https://t.co/qi1PV21Gva
— inday espina varona (@indayevarona) March 1, 2022
Constantino’s response was even better given that it’s Women’s Month.
https://twitter.com/inkamagnaye/status/1498585961944338432?s=20&t=n_nMTh0WWU9xBvjGezV4yA
https://twitter.com/jphabac/status/1498561703981633536?s=20&t=GqdB-Tz574cxxyqlZUc6gw
He looks and sounds obnoxious nga. Presidentiable yan? https://t.co/CvMusNoSWb
— Raquel Fortun (@Doc4Dead) March 1, 2022
guys hindi parin sya tapos https://t.co/iVzeyWATwQ
— AC Soriano (@ItsACsLife) March 1, 2022
