"One thing we do hold sacred to us is that the folks who joined us, particulary the initial batch of people who have joined us, the talents, the staff, the news people, especially at the start, we are deeply grateful for taking a risk with us and we will not abandon them," says TV5 chairman Manny Pangilinan about the welfare of the network employees in case his plan to buy GMA-7 pushes through.

Photo: Noel Orsal

Inamin ng businessman na si Manny Pangilinan na ilang beses na siyang nakikipag-usap sa mga kinauukulan para sa interest niyang bilhin ang GMA Network, Inc.

Nakausap ng ilang media ang may-ari ng TV5, PLDT, at Smart Telecommunications sa ginanap na stockholders' meeting ng isa pa niyang kumpanya, ang Metro Pacific, kahapon, Marso 1.

Ayon sa ulat ng Business Nightly ng ANC kagabi, Marso 1, sinabi ni MVP na ilang beses na rin nagkaroon ng pag-uusap tungkol sa balitang pagbili niya sa Kapuso network.

"We've talked to them, you know, since 2002, and then maybe five years ago," sabi ni MVP (tanyag na tawag kay Pangilinan).

Pero dagdag niya, ang mga lumabas na balitang pag-uusap kamakailan ay "preliminary" lamang.

Sa kabila ng ulat ng ito, tiniyak naman ni MVP na walang dapat ikabahala ang mga empleyado ng Kapatid network.

Aniya, "One thing we do hold sacred to us is that the folks who joined us, particulary the initial batch of people who have joined us, the talents, the staff, the news people, especially at the start, we are deeply grateful for taking a risk with us and we will not abandon them."

EARLIER RUMOR. Matatandaan na noong nakaraang taon, ibinalita ng isang "marketing website" ang umano'y bulung-bulungan na gustong bilhin ni MVP ang Kapuso network sa halagang 500 bilyong piso.

Lumakas ang usap-usapan tungkol dito nang mag-post sa Twitter si Ruffa Gutierrez, kilalang TV host-actress ng TV5, tungkol sa umano'y susunod na bibilhin ng may-ari ng Kapatid network.

Ani Ruffa, "Guess what MVP is buying next?? Found out last week through a little birdy but the few people I told didn't believe me. Now its CONFIRMEDDD."

Pero bago pa man mag-isip ang mga nakabasa nito kung ano ang tinutukoy ni Ruffa, muli siyang nag-tweet, "READ my tweet again. I never confirmed what MVP is buying! Kaya sa mga assuming, don't put words in my mouth. Yes and that includes you!"

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Samantala, sa isang panayam kay GMA Network CEO and Chairman Atty. Felipe Gozon, pabiro niyang sinagot ang mga haka-hakang ito.

Ayon sa Kapuso big boss, "Kung P500 billion, ibebenta ko right now.

"Kung may mag-o-offer ng P500 billion, kahit tulog ako, gisingin n'yo ako, I will sell.