For the past few days, there have been reports circulating that Karen Davila is having problems with her home network and that her contract with ABS-CBN will not be renewed. However, Mr. Bong Osorio, ABS-CBN's head of Corporate Communications, personally contacted PEP to deny these rumors.
In his communication with this writer earlier today, September 30, Mr. Osorio emphasized that Ms. Davila's "contract is still running until the end of the year. Next year pa siya mare-renew."
In the official statement of ABS-CBN, the network pointed out: "Karen will continue to anchor TV Patrol World aside from doing her weekly morning program Wonder Mom, which has been extended to an hour as it has been earning positive feedback from viewers who find the show informative, helpful, and entertaining."
Ms. Davila's show Wonder Mom has been extended from 30 minutes to one hour every Saturday morning.
Mr. Osorio then confirmed reports that Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdez, the news production and current affairs head of the Kapamilya Network, has been placed under preventive suspension pending the outcome of an internal matter.
"The case is still being deliberated by our executive committee. We will announce the decision as soon it is resolved," he assured.
While Ms. Cruz-Valdez is under investigation, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau Chief Ging Reyes has been tapped to perform the news production functions while Chi Almario is now the officer-in-charge of current affairs.
In an earlier statement, ABS-CBN pointed out that the controversy facing Ms. Cruz-Valdez "is not merely about a petty personal difference or simple administrative concern. It is about an internal professional matter that is now being deliberated at the highest corporate level."
There have been reports saying that the root of the conflict is an audio-visual project for Senate President Manuel Villar. ABS-CBN addressed this by saying that "there is no truth to the implied corruption charges based on the so-called political project. Adhering to its Standards & Ethics Manual, the ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs Division has a zero-tolerance corruption policy and has taken appropriate actions, including termination, when necessary."
CES DRILON RETURNS. After completing the three-month suspension imposed on her for disobeying her immediate supervisors, resulting in her kidnapping in Sulu, Ces Drilon goes back to work starting this Wednesday, October 1.
The broadcast journalist will again join Korina Sanchez and Henry Omaga Diaz in the late-night program Bandila, which will be introducing new changes starting October 6.