Korina, Noli all set to return to ‘TV Patrol’ newscast 

MANILA —Not sooner had Maria Ressa left as head of ABS-CBN’s News and Current Affairs than the station announced the return of Korina Sanchez and Noli de Castro to anchor its primetime “TV Patrol” newscast, starting on Nov. 8.

Ressa was perceived as resisting the “revamp” of TV Patrol—and in particular, the return of Sanchez and De Castro.

In the revamp, only Ted Failon was retained of the program’s three former anchors. Julius Babao and Karen Davila have been offered the chance to handle the late-night newscast “Bandila,” with Ces Drilon.
Davila went on leave before the announcement was made on Tuesday night, according to a network source.

The timing of Ressa’s departure proved crucial.

Talk has been rife that TV5, the television station owned by businessman Manny Pangilinan, had made an offer to De Castro, who was supposedly being eyed to host a program to be aired before that of another ABS-CBN alumnus, Willie Revillame’s primetime “Willing Willie.”

Apparently, ABS-CBN management was unwilling to lose De Castro, its premier broadcast talent before he left to serve as the country’s vice president, to TV5, said the same source.

After Ressa decided not to renew her contract with ABS-CBN, the way was open for the network to “expedite” the return of Sanchez and De Castro to TV Patrol, said a source.

Ressa had told the Inquirer in an interview soon after the election of President Benigno Aquino III that she was satisfied with Patrol’s then anchors—Babao, Davila and Failon.
“I am very happy with our present anchors,” she said at the time.

She explained that her position on Sanchez and De Castro stemmed from the company’s “Code of Ethics” which she helped put in place when she joined ABS-CBN over five years ago.

“A good rule of thumb is to follow the government’s policy: If you ran or if you campaigned, you have to take a year off first [from broadcasting],” Ressa explained.

Sanchez is married to former senator Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, Mr. Aquino’s defeated running mate, while De Castro served as vice president under former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“It’s a case of conflict of interest,” Ressa said.

According to a source, Ressa’s concern was that Sanchez and De Castro’s objectivity as anchors might be questioned in stories that concern their present and past political involvements.

“There is a need to transition. There is no quick fix,” Ressa said.

“Maybe after a year, we can revisit. [But then again,] life changes quickly in this country, doesn’t it? Who knows what will happen next?” she had said then.