State-run People’s Television Network (PTV-4) has unceremoniously fired one of its most prominent anchors, veteran broadcast journalist Kathy San Gabriel.
In a Facebook post, San Gabriel said she was only informed by the management that Friday (June 30) will be her last working day on Wednesday.
While saddened by the decision, San Gabriel said she wanted to continue anchoring her nightly newscast for the last time to thank viewers who had followed her career at the state-run network.
However, she was told through text that she need not show up for what would have been her last day on air.
“Nagdesisyon po ang pamunuan ng People’s Television na huwag akong papasukin mamayang gabi. I was not given the dignity of a goodbye,” San Gabriel said.
Accompanying the anchor’s post was a screen grab of the text message, which read: “Ms. Kathy, good morning po. Negative feedback po sa PTV yung posts ng mga tao. Pasensya na po, nag decide po ang management na wag na po kayo papasukin today sa newscast. I hope you understand, thank you po. God bless.”
San Gabriel, who has been a journalist since 1999, did not disclose the reason why PTV-4 let go of her.
Fellow former PTV-4 anchor Kirby Cristobal, however, hinted that an existing “palakasan system” within the state-run television network might be the reason why San Gabriel lost her job.
In a separate Facebook post, Cristobal said: “‘Palakasan system’ buhay na buhay sa PTV-4.”‘
He said those who were loyal to PTV-4 were fired from work regardless of their contribution to the network, while those who did wrong even got plum positions at the news department.
“Yan ba ang PAGBABAGO? Marami na ang umalis at inalis na tapat sa serbisyo pero wala pating aksyon,” Cristobal said.
