The production teams behind Rated Korina and Korina Interviews have issued a strongly worded open letter to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, defending their programs and host Korina Sanchez after his recent remarks about their feature on Sara and Curlee Discaya.
According to the official statement, the shows have consistently adhered to high editorial standards, focusing on public interest stories and ethical storytelling. Producers clarified that their programs are not designed for exposés or political mudslinging, but rather to highlight the personal journeys of individuals.
On the Discaya feature, the team explained that it was taped and aired before the campaign period—in November 2024 and January 2025—and that Sanchez only learned on the day of the shoot that she was interviewing a mayoralty candidate. They added that the arrangement was handled by production staff, not by Sanchez herself.
The letter also rejected allegations of multi-million peso interview placements, branding them as “irresponsible and malicious.” Producers stressed that while some stories involving companies or personalities may be paid segments, all payments are processed transparently through the network with official receipts.
They further warned that Sotto’s comments, made publicly on Facebook, could amount to cyber libel as these cast doubt on Sanchez’s decades-long journalism career. To drive their point, the producers asked: “Who are we to presume our interviewees as evil with no basis or evidence long before they come into controversy? Are we also to presume you are guilty of overpricing the construction of government buildings just because your opponent thinks so?”
The team also noted that interviews involving political candidates are removed from their official platforms after elections, and the Discayas are not authorized to use program footage for political purposes.
Ending their letter, the producers called for more responsible dialogue, saying: “While free speech is respected, thoughtful restraint that benefits truth and fairness should guide public conversation, especially among leaders.”
