Gabriela: GMA 7’s news about Vhong Navarro-Deniece Cornejo case, misleading and malicious

MANILA, Philippines – In the long run of Vhong Navarro versus Deniece Cornejo-Cedric Lee case, GMA 7 earned a streak of strikes from netizens due to the network’s allegedly biased reporting in favor of Cornejo’s side. Now, Gabriela Women’s Party joins the slapping series when GMA 7’s news reports allegedly used the women’s right sectoral group’s statement in a “deliberately misleading and malicious” way.

Atty. Alnie G. Foja, Gabriela’s Director for Legal Affairs, brought to Facebook her disappointment over a January 30 GMA News report by Sandra Aguinaldo on 24 Oras (24 Hours) titled “Gabriela, nanawagan na unawain at huwag agad husgahan si Deniece Cornejo” (Gabriela pleaded [to the public] to understand Deniece Cornejo and suspend judgement first) and an online article published on GMA News Online, the network’s news portal site, titled “Gabriela Women’s Party expresses support for Cornejo.”

GMA 7′s 24 Oras reports that Gabriela Women’s Party expresses support to Deniece Cornejo, Vhong Navarro’s alleged rape victim. However, Atty. Alnie G. Foja, legal counsel of the women’s right sectoral group, vehemently denied the said claim saying the news was deliberately malicious and misleading. (Screen grab from 24 Oras YouTube video).

In the reports, GMA News purported that Gabriela expresses support to the starlet Cornejo who accused TV host Navarro of rape.

Here is the open letter of Atty. Foja posted on her Facebook personal account.

Gabriela Atty. Alnie G. Fojas airs her grievances over GMA News ‘malicious and misleading’ report purporting that Gabriela issued a statement of support for Deniece Cornejo. (Screen shot from Atty. Foja’s Facebook personal account)

Here is the allegedly malicious and misleading report of GMA 7’s 24 Oras.

Meanwhile, GMA News Online pulled out the online article written by Elizabeth Marcelo. In spite of that, the article can be retrieved from its caché and can be viewed here.

Rape angle

In a sworn statement made by Navarro to National Bureau of Investigation against Cornejo, businessman Cedric Lee, main suspect for Navarro’s mauling, and his cohorts, Navarro stated that Lee’s group blackmailed him saying that they will release a video of Navarro confessing rape to Cornejo, which video Lee’s group also took, and a police blotter incriminating the actor on a rape charge unless he will give Lee’s group an agreed amount of two million pesos. An alias Mike said, according to Navarro’s affidavit, “Walang video, walang blotter, walang media. Basta ibigay mo ang pera na hinihingi.” (No video, no blotter, no media – as long as you will give us the amount asked.)

An alias Mike promises Vhong Navarro that Cedric Lee’s group will forfeit releasing an obscene video of Navarro and a police blotter compromising the actor’s career should he gives the agreed P2M amount of money. (Photo credit: philstar.com)

Navarro failed to give Lee’s demand, which he instructed Navarro to deposit on a given bank account. Incidentally, GMA News, the first media outlet to do so, aired the alleged rape angle and police blotter against Navarro on January 26 which then sparked the ire of netizens, particularly Navarro’s supporters.

GMA News declining integrity?

This is not the first time that the ‘Kapuso’ network was bashed for being allegedly partisan in delivering news. On January 26, the hashtag #GMAPhilippinesWorstNetwork appeared in the Twitter trending topics, together with other related topics such as ‘Walang Kinikilingan’ (no inclination), Cedric Lee, and Denise Millet Cornejo due to the allegedly ‘biased reporting’ of the giant TV network.

The hashtag #GMAPhilippinesWorstNetwork becomes an overnight trending topic on Twitter, January 26, 2014, when a police blotter appeared on GMA emphasizing an alleged rape attempt by actor Vhong Navarro. Netizens cry foul over alleged ‘biased reporting.’ (Screen shot from Twitter)

Similarly, on January 28, netizens, particularly Navarro’s supporters, criticized GMA News executive Jessica Soho for allegedly undermining the significance of CCTV footage in the Forbeswood Heights condominium incident.

Another was morning show Unang Hirit host Arnold Clavio’s allegedly inclining with Cornejo-Lee’s lawyer over Navarro’s in an interview on January 31. Netizens reacted when, according to them, Clavio had been interrupting Navarro’s lawyer while explaining his case. The incident was apart from Clavio’s rude interview with the lawyer of suspected ‘pork scam mastermind’ Janette Lim Napoles,’ ‘racist remarks’ against Philippine football team Azkals and ‘irresponsible reporting’ against international preacher Eliseo Soriano in a 2009 Case Unclosed episode titled “Paninirang-Puri.”