Veteran GMA Network anchor Arnold Clavio has rejected claims that he was handed bags of cash linked to former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, dismissing the allegation as baseless and vowing to confront it in court.
The accusation came from Mario Ceniza Jr., one of several men presented as former bodyguards and bagmen of Co, during a gathering on Tuesday, June 16, organized by former Anakalusugan party-list Rep. Mike Defensor. According to Ceniza’s account, he was placed under a media public relations figure named Bernard Peralta, and it was through that posting that he claimed to have witnessed broadcast anchors receiving paper bags.
“Na-assign po ako sa isang PR na taga-media na si Bernard Peralta. Doon ko po nakita yung mga nabibigyan po ng mga paperbag, na mga anchor na taga-media, kagaya po ni Arnold Clavio,” he said.
He told the audience the payments to the journalist allegedly arrived on a monthly basis. Before he could continue, cheering and applause from the crowd cut him off. He said he would reserve the rest of the details for his sworn statement, describing what he had shared as only a fraction of what he knew.
“At doon lang po muna, sa affidavit ko na lang po yung ibang kuwan… sampol lang ho ‘yon, marami pa ho akong mga nakilala,” he said.
Clavio answered the same day through an Instagram post, flatly denying the claim and challenging his accuser to produce proof.
“Nakakalungkot. Pero lahat ng ito ay haharapin ko ng walang takot. Talk is cheap. Bago ang dada, ebidensya muna. Hindi ako natatakot. Wala akong itinatago,” he wrote, also calling the accusation a lie and ridiculous.
He said the matter should be settled before a judge: “Magkita na lang kami sa korte, at doon ulitin nya lahat ng kanyang walang ka kwenta kwentang bintang.”
The Manila Times reported that GMA Network said it was reviewing the allegation against its longtime host. Per Rappler, Tuesday’s event had been announced as a Senate blue ribbon committee hearing, but no senators appeared, and it proceeded instead as a press briefing at an events venue along EDSA rather than at the Senate. The same group of men, referred to as the “Brave 18,” used the platform to broaden earlier corruption claims, with one participant alleging that four suitcases were brought to a New Manila residence he identified as belonging to Senator Francis Escudero.
