GMA Network to probe alleged 'pork' payoff to radio broadcaster

MANILA, Philippines — GMA Network vowed to investigate allegations that state-owned National Agribusiness Corp. (Nabcor) bribed one of its broadcasters at the height of Janet Lim Napoles' alleged pork barrel scam.

News anchor Mike Enriquez, who heads the network's radio operations, said they will conduct a "thorough" probe on whether Carmelo del Prado Magdurulang, a news anchor for GMA-owned dzBB, received payment from Nabcor officials in the form of so-called advertising expenses.

"In accordance with standard procedure, we will conduct a thorough investigation of any allegations of violations. Due process will be observed and we will ensure that full sanctions will be applied if determined to be necessary," Enriquez said in a statement Tuesday.

Former Nabcor officials Rhodora Mendoza and Vic Cacal, who recently submitted sworn statements to the Department of Justice and applied to becomes state witnesses on the pork scam probe, claimed that Magdurulang and Erwin Tulfo, another well known radio and television personality, were issued over P235,000 as secret payment from the Department of Agriculture in 2009.

The department was then headed by now Bohol Rep. Arthur Yap.

Enriquez, meanwhile, said that violations of the network's core values and ethical standards are "taken very seriously."

"GMA Network places the utmost importance on the professional and ethical conduct of all its personnel, particularly those engaged in news and public affairs," he said.

Mendoza and Cacal also said that another unnamed broadcasting personality received payoffs, funds sourced from the lawmakers' Priority Development Assistance Funds through Napoles' bogus non-government organizations.