ABS-CBN sacks De Castro's show

[stinkaboy]

THE LONG-RUNNING show "Magandang Gabi, Bayan" was pulled off the air because of Vice President Noli de Castro's "problems" with ABS-CBN management regarding his support for President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, according to a network insider.

The insider told the Inquirer in a phone interview on Sunday that the Lopezes, owners of ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp., had "wanted to use" the weekly current affairs program "to attack the administration."

"When Mr. De Castro refused, it was made clear to him, 'Either help us or leave,'" said the insider, who is close to De Castro and his wife Arlene, and who asked not to be named for fear of loss of employment.

"Magandang Gabi, Bayan" (MGB) had its last show last Dec. 31, ending a run of close to 18 years that made De Castro famous as "Kabayan" and helped launch his political career.

It was produced by Bayan Productions, which is run by De Castro's wife, Arlene de Castro.

The last show was co-anchored by the De Castros'

daughter, Katherine, with Erwin Tulfo and Henry Omaga Diaz.

"De Castro's reply to the Lopezes was simple: 'I can't use MGB to attack the administration because I'm part of the administration,'" the insider said.

Yesterday, a reliable source who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Lopezes had asked De Castro to break away from Ms Arroyo, but that the Vice President had yet to respond.

The source cited the cancellation of MGB as proof of the alleged continuing pressure exerted by the Lopezes on De Castro.

According to the source, the Lopezes have declared a "war" on Ms Arroyo, whom they supposedly viewed to be hostile to their business interests.

The family was supposedly particularly piqued by Ms Arroyo's decision to back the efforts of the government-owned National Power Corp. to collect billions of pesos in debts owed by the Lopez-owned Manila Electric Co. (Meralco).

Asked to comment, De Castro said: "Masakit ang ngipin ko (I have a toothache)"-employing former President Fidel Ramos' way of saying "No comment."

He said he was not sure whether the removal of the show from the air was politically motivated. He added that MGB, being a line-produced show, could be junked any time by the network.

De Castro also stressed that he had not been connected with MGB in any way since he left it last year and assumed office as Vice President.

But he admitted that talk about the Lopezes' request for him to withdraw support from the President and the axing of MGB had been going around ABS-CBN lately.

Pressed to say something on the issue, De Castro said: "I have no comment at this time."

De Castro has a public service program, "Para Sa Iyo, Bayan," which airs over ABS-CBN radio station dzMM every Saturday and for which he has refused to accept compensation.

Surprised

Per the insider's account, Arlene de Castro met last November with MGB anchors and some staff members at a restaurant in Rockwell, Makati City, to tell them the "sad news."

"They were surprised when they were told that it was over for MGB. Arlene told them that Bayan Productions would not renew the contract with ABS-CBN that expired in December," the insider said, adding:

"Ever since De Castro became Vice President, [the owners wanted to put] politics in the show."

At one point, the insider said, Omaga Diaz was made to host a segment on politics "against Arlene's will," but she complied.

"[But] the strategy didn't work," the insider said. "That segment had to be taken out because the ratings were taking a dive. Natatalo ng (the show was losing to the) competition. The ratings of police stories are still stronger."

'Time to retire MGB'

Yet another reliable source said ABS-CBN top management called Arlene de Castro early last month to inform her that MGB would have its last airing on Dec. 17.

But two more shows were eventually allowed to run until the swan song on New Year's Eve.

The source -- who, like the others, asked not to be named so as to protect himself -- said this was probably because the network had no show yet to replace MGB at that time.

The sudden cancellation of the show stunned everybody at the network, the source said.

The source also said the network management had told MGB producers that "it was time to retire" the program.

But the source wondered why MGB was given the boot when the people behind it were supposed to meet with top management in March to decide on the program's fate.

Also, the source said, the cancellation of the show was surprising because it was doing well in terms of ratings and commercials.

"Maybe they wanted to disassociate from Kabayan because of his continued support for President Arroyo," the source said.

Last week, "Kamao," a show on Filipino boxing hosted by Ted Failon, was shown on MGB's time slot.

No 'GMA factor'

"Kamao" is expected to run for the next three weeks as a prelude to the boxing rematch between the Philippines' Manny Pacquiao and Mexico's Eric Morales.

Lawyer Jesse Andres, De Castro's chief of staff and spokesperson, said there was no "GMA factor" in the decision of ABS-CBN to junk the show.

Andres told the Inquirer that the show's contract was only up to Dec. 31, 2005, and that it was possible that it was not renewed by the network.

"Block time lang yang MGB. ABS-CBN wanted to remove it after Noli left the show to serve as Vice President. Even with the ratings, medyo iba na rin ang dating (the show comes out different) without Noli," he said.

Andres said De Castro was no longer part of MGB and had no intention of returning to it because Cabinet members were not allowed to have direct interests in any business.

"The Vice President is not interested [in returning to MGB] at the moment. He still has to serve up to 2010," Andres said.

He also said offers had been made for the show to move to GMA 7, but that he did not know what had happened to the negotiation.

In the matter of the supposed rift between the Lopez family and De Castro regarding the latter's support for Ms Arroyo, Andres said: "I asked the Vice President about it and he said it's definitely not true."

Mum's the word

Staff members of MGB -- there were more than 40, eight of whom were writers -- were mum or in the dark about the matter.

Questions were posed: What happened?

"I have no authority to say," said one.

"Masalimuot (It's complicated)," said another.

Was it the ratings?

"Of course not! That's not true. We're in the thick of things. Lumalaban kami (We're fighting)," said one.

Said another: "Of course not. It has to do with ... No comment. We are not in the know about what happens sa itaas (in top echelons)."

Political?

"That's the speculation I'm hearing," said one. "But who are we to say? We cannot speculate on what happens on the highest floors of ABS-CBN

[KCboy]

lopez talaga....pinalugi na yung maynilad pati meralco...tapos sila pa ang galit...although i dnt like gma either.

[O!lman]

Vested interest first before friendship........Swapang talaga ang mga Lopez. Galit sila kay GMA dahil dun sa expose na overcharged nila ang consumers sa electric bills... They deny it pero natalo sila sa arbitration. They took Maynilad tapos isasauli lang sa gov't matapos malugi! Sana bumagsak na talaga ang mga negosyo nila...karma.....karma.......karma.........

[artpogi]

bumabawi ang Lopezes,

they were screwed during the time of Marcos, now they're making sure not to be screwed again by the government

[mantoy]

ang problem kasi sa lopezes ang gusto nilang business eh mga public utilities which the govt wants to 'regulate' one way or another. kainis nga yang palakad nila sa maynilad. 2 days na kaming walang tubig. grrr! they fail in comparison on how manila water is being managed. bayantel sucks. konting ulan lang wala ka ng dial tone. meralco? hmm, ayoko ng masira araw ko.

[nicolodeon]

This had to eventually come sooner or later. The ABS-CBN, De Castro and Arroyo triage has been a powder keg from the start - the keg only had a slow fuse.

[falken]

Masyado nang suwapang ang nga Lopezes. These guys are detrimental to the progress of the Phil.

[CVT]

I agree 100% with kcboy: the lopezes screwed both Meralco and later on Maynilad services, by hiring 'consultants' on outrageous compensations, while not addressing the distribution losses for both PUBLIC UTILITIES,- throwing the burden to us honest consumers! There was a provision that they should be lowering such distribution-loss charges, year after year, but was obviously 'ignored'. Worse, on the Maynilad thing, we, taxpayers, through our benevolent government, became their safety net when they bailed out...

I do not like Gloria, too...

[CtrlAltDel]

The way I see it, the Lopezes had been the favorite whipping boy of the government and nobody on the government is on their (Lopez's) side. It's a good thing that Meralco and Maynilad are regulated. This means everything that has happened so far to these businesses have been lawful. Marami din kasi ang naglalaway na makuha ang Meralco. Power is big business, man.

Yet how much of the bad publicity spoken about the Lopezes are really true? Did they send people to jail without just cause? Did they personally oppress anyone without reason? Did they kill people? Did they bad-mouth anyone in public? Do you really believe they are corrupt and greedy? Nahh...!

Do you think the Lopezes have a dirty tricks department? Do they bribe judges and authorities to get their way? I don't think so. Mas malamang nga hindi sila nagbibigay ng pampadulas sa may kapangyarihan kaya ganun nalang ang harassment sa mga businesses nila.

Do you really believe everything that Mika Enriquez said about them? That guy has a gigantic vested interest! Hehehe.

If the goings on at ABS-CBN's MGB were, as what you said, the Lopezes' offensive stance, well, Good luck to them! They've been screwed enough already. They have the right to look after themselves. No one else does.

[creepy]

The way I see it, the Lopezes had been the favorite whipping boy of the government and nobody on the government is on their (Lopez's) side.

So true. Despite what most people believe, Meralco in particular has been UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT. Even if you ask other utilities (Davao Light, VECO, etc...), they'd tell you that Meralco is being unfairly treated in their various controversies, simply because of (inaccurate) public perception.

It's a good thing that Meralco and Maynilad are regulated. This means everything that has happened so far to these businesses have been lawful. Marami din kasi ang naglalaway na makuha ang Meralco. Power is big business, man.

Lawful? Hmmm... I think an unbiased third party would find many rulings against Meralco to be highly questionable. The performance of Maynilad, however, is a totally different matter. Maynilad is a total disaster!

In any case, I think MGB is a bad, bad show that panders to the audience's lowest common denominator. If it's cancelled, then GOOD RIDDANCE!

[oldblue]

So true. Despite what most people believe, Meralco in particular has been UNFAIRLY SINGLED OUT. Even if you ask other utilities (Davao Light, VECO, etc...), they'd tell you that Meralco is being unfairly treated in their various controversies, simply because of (inaccurate) public perception.

kawawa talaga ang meralco. lahat ng tao galit sa meralco kasi sila ang naka-front sa kuryente. pero ang hindi alam ng tao dami kumu komisyon sa electricity bills nila like Napocor, IPP's, the Govt. heto ang nakakapagtaka 2nd major stockholder ng meralco eh gobyerno so kita na sila sa dividends income ng meralco, kumikita pa sila sa Napocor, and they heavily tax meralco pa in terms of those electricity posts na nakatayo sa kalsada na pag-aari din ng gobyerno. then may E-Vat pa etc...

hindi pa kasama dyan ang BIR coz i-tax din ang annual income tax ng parte ng meralco.

Meralco is only distribution kumbaga sa Malls dealers lang sila.

kaya nga galit ang business community sa move ng govt. to takeover Meralco kasi kawawa na nga, pati yun maliit na parti na kinikita ng meralco sa electric bills natin to buy service trucks, to install posts, to buy cables, to collect bills eh lalo pa pinipiga.

what happens kapag pumalpak ang services ng meralco, eh d business community din ang mag-suffer. magkakaproblema ang kuryente, parati brownout.

[Linkk]

kawawa talaga ang meralco. lahat ng tao galit sa meralco kasi sila ang naka-front sa kuryente. pero ang hindi alam ng tao dami kumu komisyon sa electricity bills nila like Napocor, IPP's, the Govt. heto ang nakakapagtaka 2nd major stockholder ng meralco eh gobyerno so kita na sila sa dividends income ng meralco, kumikita pa sila sa Napocor, and they heavily tax meralco pa in terms of those electricity posts na nakatayo sa kalsada na pag-aari din ng gobyerno. then may E-Vat pa etc...

hindi pa kasama dyan ang BIR coz i-tax din ang annual income tax ng parte ng meralco.

Meralco is only distribution kumbaga sa Malls dealers lang sila.

kaya nga galit ang business community sa move ng govt. to takeover Meralco kasi kawawa na nga, pati yun maliit na parti na kinikita ng meralco sa electric bills natin to buy service trucks, to install posts, to buy cables, to collect bills eh lalo pa pinipiga.

what happens kapag pumalpak ang services ng meralco, eh d business community din ang mag-suffer. magkakaproblema ang kuryente, parati brownout.

i agree, tagasingil lang naman sila para sa gobyerno,kawawa na nga meralco lalo pang pinipiga. pag natuloy yung takeover patay na, palpak na ang services magiging tulad na ng maynilad.

[wowiesy]

that the inquirer trumpets this angle is sure formula for better circulation..

that abscbn downplays this as a long delayed move makes it all the more a juicy story...

i personally agree with inquirer's angle.. and that of abscbn... kahit pa conflicting silang dalawa... pupuwede naman mangyari na di lang talaga iisa ang dahilan bakit tinapos yung show di ba?

[mantoy]

i agree that the lopezes should look after themselves after being screwed during the marcos years. but being owners of 3 major public utilities, they owe it to their customers and the public at large to manage these businesses right and provide efficient services. look what they've done! argh!

[kimpOy]

soon MBG kapuso na...

[CtrlAltDel]

soon MBG kapuso na...

So be it. Let change happen where they are unstoppable.

In case you forgot, there is another "conflict" on the alleged ABS-CBN offensive against Malacanang: Manny Pacquiao. Our boxer fully supports the present administration and his current home network is ABS-CBN. Time for Pacman to hustle on over to GMA7? Heheheh

Why not ABC-5 para maiba? Sorry, OT na.

[XTO]

pagkatapos nilang pakinabangan si kabayan. laki tsansang lumipat yan sa kapuso. ayos!

[kimpOy]

yup wrong move, that move brings them into negative light, im sure GMA7's TOPBRASS are burning the lines now to contact Noli,

[Kanut]

isnt noli's wife arlene a former abs-cbn topbrass??you have to give noli a credit for his loyalty.See what happens when business and politics come together?

[zeagle]

Naku tulad lang ni FVR and mga Lopez. Sour graping yung dalawa sa mahilig mang-isa na GMA. Now they have learned their lesson.