‘MGB cancellation OK’d by ABS-CBN’

The decision of the ABS-CBN management to pull the plug on Vice President Noli de Castro’s long-running television documentary program "Magandang Gabi Bayan" (MGB) had the apparent "blessing" of one of the network’s owners and big shots of the news and current affairs division.

An official close to the Vice President disclosed De Castro became a victim of an internal corporate struggle initiated by a "new kid in town" who wanted to call the shots above the reporters, producers and other staff of the network.

This also led to a falling out between the Lopez family — owners of ABS-CBN — and De Castro.

The source revealed De Castro and the Lopezes have not spoken for quite some time even after the ABS-CBN management arrived at a decision last December to yank "MGB" off the air, which at the time was hosted by the Vice President’s daughter Katherine and Erwin Tulfo.

There was no attempt whatsoever by De Castro and the Lopezes "to tie the loose ends" in an effort to revive "MGB" after it aired its last episode in December.

The source revealed De Castro was hurt over the decision to cancel the show, which ran for 18 years.

Sources from ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs division reportedly told De Castro the decision came from their boss, Maria Ressa, a former senior CNN journalist.

"The Vice President was hurt. He also said mayabang siya (she was arrogant)," the source said in apparent reference to Ressa.

"Dapat sinabi nila (They should have stated) it was a management decision, period at hindi dahil (and not because there is) conflict of interest. That’s adding insult to injury," the source quoted De Castro as saying.

Sources noted De Castro was exasperated over Ressa’s efforts to explain the decision on the network’s primetime news program "TV Patrol" last week.

Ressa said the decision to kill the "MGB" program came from management in order to prevent a "conflict of interest."

The conflict of interest cited by Ressa was an apparent reference to De Castro’s holding public office as Vice President, the source pointed out.

Ressa could not be reached for comment but an internal memo obtained by The STAR from ABS-CBN sources merely repeated what was stated on "TV Patrol" last week.

Ressa wrote "the cancellation of the program is only part of the process of upgrading newsroom operations which began last year. We aim to bridge the gap between local and international practices to bring the highest standards of ethics and broadcast journalism to the Philippines." — With Edu Punay