Willie blasts ABS-CBN News campaign coverage

MANILA, Philippines – “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame on Monday blasted ABS-CBN News for purportedly not reporting the complete story when covering the campaign sorties of Nacionalista Party (NP) standard bearer Sen. Manuel Villar Jr.

“Mag-Kapamilya tayo. Bakit kapag lumalabas kami, 100,000, 200,000 [tao] hindi ninyo pinapakita? Konti lang. Pero kapag ibang partido… Ang ipinapakita ninyo lamang, nakatayo kami sa stage. Ipakita ninyo naman ang katotohanan na punong puno ng tao,” Revillame told an ABS-CBN correspondent during a press conference in General Santos City.

He cited as an example an NP rally in Camarines Sur, where ABS-CBN allegedly didn't show a shot of the big audience.

During NP’s campaign sortie in Koronadal, South Cotabato, Revillame asked the cameramen from different television networks to go up on stage so that they could get a better shot of the huge crowd that gathered for the event.

Among the celebrities on stage were Jessa Zaragoza, Randy Santiago, and Aegis.

Revillame, however, clarified that he was not dictating on the media.

He appealed: “Kung magco-cover tayo, i-cover nating lahat. Ipakita natin lahat. Hindi ‘yong kami lang. Nakakasawa na ang mga mukha namin, ‘yong mga tumatakbo. Hindi ba dapat ‘yong mga tao [ang ipakita ninyo?] Ang mga tao naman ang bida dito.”

Loren Legarda, NP’s vice presidential bet, echoed Revillame’s sentiments. “All I ask is for media to report accurately and for the video to speak for itself.”

Kris 'mad at the evil news people'

Aside from NP, Kris Aquino, sister of Liberal Party presidential bet Sen. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III, reportedly criticized ABS-CBN News for its campaign coverage.

Tabloid newspapers reported that Kris purportedly referred to the news department personnel as “evil people.”

This after ABS-CBN News showed a video of her youngest son, Baby James, blurting out Villar’s name during the campaign sortie of her brother in Bacolod. (Read story and watch video here)

Kris said in her text message: "I won't be mad at the evil people of news, because Noy is now 12 points ahead. So I'll just forgive them for picking on an innocent 2 year old!"

ABS-CBN News, meanwhile, believes the complaints from both sides prove the network has been fair in its election coverage. - Report from Alvin Elchico, ABS-CBN News