MANILA -- The Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) said ABS-CBN Corp. is generally fair when it comes to news reporting, contrary to allegations of biased reporting.

KBP president Jun Nicdao told lawmakers that ABS-CBN has received 11 complaints since 2010, of which 8 have been resolved by the parties involved.

"In general po, masasabi po natin, for the most part fair po ang ABS-CBN. Of course, as they said, they are not perfect," Nicdao told lawmakers at the 12th hearing on ABS-CBN's franchise application.

(In general I can say, for the most part, ABS-CBN is fair. Of course, as they said, they are not perfect.)

"Mayroon po akong listahan ng mga reklamo against them since 2010, umaabot po ng 11 ang reklamo against them, ranging from offensive words to biased reporting na sinasabi...'Yung 8 po, naresolve between the parties," he said.

(I have a list of all the complaints against them since 2010, we have 11 complaints, ranging from offensive words to alleged biased reporting... Eight of these cases have been resolved between parties.)

He also said ABS-CBN immediately rectifies whatever it has done wrong after receiving complaints.

"Ang maganda naman po sa ABS, basta nagkaroon ng ganitong kaso, nire-resolve po nila, and if they made a mistake, they promise to reform. They always try to correct whatever mistake they have done," Nicdao said.

(What's good with ABS, every time they have a similar case, they resolve it, and if they made a mistake, they promise to reform. They always try to correct whatever mistake they have done.)

When asked whether KBP considers ABS-CBN a major violator, Nicdao said they receive more complaints against regional broadcasters compared to what they receive against the company.

"Pangkaraniwan po ito. In fact, I would say actually mas marami po kaming naririnig na kaso sa mga miyembro po natin sa probinsya... Hindi po malala 'yung sa kanila. May mas malala pa sa kanila," he explained.

(This is common. In fact, I would say there are more complaints against our members in the provinces. There are worse cases than their cases.)

'KBP MEMBERS PRACTICE SELF-REGULATION'

Nicdao also said members of the KBP practice self-regulation, but the group also has a quasi-judicial body that hears complaints against its members.

“Kung mayroon mapatunayan na naglabag yung inakusahan na programa istasyon o network o personality ay bibigyan po ng karampatang fine o penalty,” he said.

(If it is proven that the accused program, station, network or personality committed violations, then they can be given the appropriate fine or penalty.)

Nicdao earlier said he supports the renewal of ABS-CBN's broadcast franchise.

ABS-CBN Integrated News chief Ma. Regina Reyes on Monday testified that the company’s journalists "strive to keep biases in check, and to report on newsworthy events, persons, and issues in an accurate, fair, and balanced manner."

A network ombudsman investigates complaints against news personnel, and a standards and practices unit ensures journalist's adherence to ethics code, she added.

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Former ABS-CBN anchor Jay Sonza earlier told lawmakers that ABS-CBN showed bias in its reporting on Paolo Duterte’s alleged links to drug trafficking which became an issue in 2019 with the release of a viral video implicating President Rodrigo Duterte’s son.

“Ilang beses po yang inilabas ng mga networks lalong lalo na ng ABS-CBN. But they never had… na kunin yung panig… binanatan si Polong Duterte…)

(The networks aired that several times… but they never got the side… they hit Paolo Duterte...)

However, a Google search of ABS-CBN news articles on the issue turned up stories presenting Paolo Duterte’s side.

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