Following the statement issued by GMA-7 to PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other media outlets, ABS-CBN Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Bong Osorio immediately sent an e-mail message relaying that they're sticking to reporter Junrie Hidalgo's report earlier today at DZMM.
In a written statement disseminated earlier today by the Kapuso network, they condemned DZMM reporter Junrie Hidalgo for candidly naming the Kapuso network as the party behind the alleged bribery in Bacolod to influence the viewing behavior of some households included in the television ratings survey.
According to Osorio, AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines General Manager Maya Reforma herself admitted to Hidalgo during an interview earlier today that GMA-7 was "behind certain activities that resulted in exposing the affected panel homes."
However, Osorio once more reiterated that ABS-CBN is not indicting any network or any other outside party.
Osorio clearly highlighted this in his statement by saying, "Please note that the civil case ABS-CBN filed last Friday, December 14, was against AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines and not against any other party."
This statement is consistent to Mr. Osorio's reply when asked during the emergency press conference called by ABS-CBN last December 14 to announce the filing of a P63-million civil case against AGB Nielsen for allegedly failing to conduct an investigation about the matter.
"We're not pointing at any network or an outside entity," he said coolly to PEP Philippine Entertainment Portal) right after the presscon proper.
"Right now, our focus is on AGB alone because it is their responsibility to ensure us and all of their clients that the data we are getting is correct, accurate and not tainted," Osorio added.
But the ABS-CBN executive also didn't dismiss the possibility of going after a particular "party" aside from AGB Nielsen in the near future.
"We'll see," he said. "It depends on the result of the investigation and where the case would lead us."