Julius Babao “On Leave” Amid Buzz Following Vico Sotto’s Viral Post

Broadcaster Julius Babao is currently on leave from TV5 amid the issues.

Mayor Vico Sotto’s post has put Julius Babao at the center of controversy, and currently, the broadcaster is on leave from his TV5 programs.

Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto was in the headlines after calling out journalists who are paid to feature contractors who want to enter politics. He did not mention any names but used screenshots from the interviews of Sarah and Curlee Discaya with seasoned broadcasters Korina Sanchez and Julius Babao.

Both anchors denied claims that a large sum of money was exchanged for a feature in their programs. The Discaya couple, meanwhile, remains under fire over alleged irregularities in multi-billion-peso flood control projects.

Babao clarified the allegations that he received financial incentives for the interview. He firmly and specifically stated that there was no PHP 10 million involved in the feature. The broadcaster noted that the specific interview was intended to inspire people. The male broadcaster also pointed out that, at that time, Discaya was not running yet for Pasig City Mayor.

“Walang katotohanang may 10 million na involved for this interview. Ang layunin ng vlog ay ma-inspire ang mga tao na posibleng maging matagumpay kung magsisipag lang at didiskarte sa buhay,” Babao said.

Recently, based on the reports, he was on leave amid the buzz of the controversy. Temporarily, he was replaced by Ed Lingao as Cheryl Cosim’s co-anchor in the TV5 primetime news program Frontline Pilipinas. This was on Monday, and on Tuesday, Lourd de Veyra stood to fill his place.

Reports indicate that he will be placed “on leave” while TV5’s management and news division conduct an investigation into the controversy he is involved in, with the aim of preventing similar incidents in the future.

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