The former news director of ABS-CBN claimed that his ex network established a foundation to get kickbacks from its donors.
In a radio interview with the host of ‘Tambayan sa DWIZ’, veteran journalist Jay Sonza recounted how his former broadcasting company formed a foundation after they saw how many people donated on them when they published a story about a person with an abnormal condition.
“Sa totoo lang, walang kahit isang perang lumalabas sa ABS eh. Ang mga itinutulong galing din sa ating lahat na mga donors eh. Bakit ko alam ito? Ganito nagsimula ang foundation, wala naman talagang foundation ang ABS eh. ‘Yung ni-launch namin ang TV Patrol, noon 1989, tatlong programa ang pinagsama namin, news, buhay artista at public service. Nagsimula sa lingkod bayan iyan,” Sonza said.
“Sabi ni Mel (Tiangco), ‘tulungan natin’. Eh di nanawagan. Ang daming nagdonate. Imbes na ang kailangan ay P1,800, ang pumasok na pera ay otsenta mil… Noong dumami ang pera, naisip ng management na gawin ng foundation. Kasi milyones na ang pera,” he added.
According to Sonza, the foundation that ABS-CBN established became successful.
When the Luzon quake happened, the network raised billions of pesos from its subscribers who wanted to help the victims of the calamity.
However, Sonza criticized the move of ABS-CBN after the management allegedly used the money of the foundation the construct additional buildings for the company.
“Kaya noong umalis kami ng ABS, ang pera ng ABS foundation ay bilyones. Puro donation iyan… Pagkatapos nagpatayo sila ng building sa kanto ng Scout Albano at ng Mother Ignacia. Doon ako umangal. Sabi ko ‘Bakit kailangan galing sa foundation?’. Kung kami nga kumukha ng gamot galing sa lingkod bayan ay binabayaran pa namin,” the journalist revealed.
Aside from constructing a building, Sonza also claimed that the broadcasting network used the foundation money to buy vehicles.
According to Sonza, he also wanted the government to investigate the ABS-CBN foundation for their alleged illegal activities or if the network is not hiding something, just reveal their accounting books to the public.
“Kung walang tinatago ang ABS, ilabas nila yung libro, kung ilan yung natanggap nila sa Yolanda, ilan yung tinanggap nila kay Flor Contemplacion, ilang yung natanggap nila sa Mount Pinatubo, kung paano nila ginastos,” he said.
ABS-CBN foundation was originally established in 1989 and known for its three flagship programs: Bantay Bata 163, Sagip Kapamilya and Bantay Kalikasan.