Korina Sanchez’s ‘absence’ from her ABS-CBN programs following her remarks on Anderson Cooper has left viewers abuzz.
While relief efforts continue in areas ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda), the news community was in shock as Korina Sanchez and Anderson Cooper raged a word war about the latter’s comment on the lack of government response to the victims. And netizens took notice of the situation.
During her DZMM radio program ‘Rated Korina’ last November 13, Sanchez reacted to Anderson’s comment regarding the lack of government presence in Tacloban, saying that the CNN anchor ‘doesn’t know what he is saying’. Her comments drew a negative reaction from social media users, and even CNN picked up the story. At the same time Cooper’s on-site reporting in Tacloban was being praised by local celebrities.
Two days later, Cooper responded by telling Sanchez that she was welcome to go to Tacloban, though Sanchez was at Ormoc at the time of his comments. In closing, he denied saying that there was no government presence, and instead commented on the strength and positivity of the survivors.
Following the comments, Sanchez disappeared from the media for unexplained reasons. Initially it was reported that Sanchez was suspended, but according to a Pep.ph report, Sanchez was presumed to have taken a ‘leave of absence’ from her duties at ABS-CBN. No official statement was provided by ABS-CBN regarding her no-show.
For now viewers will not see Korina Sanchez on air in both ‘TV Patrol‘ and ‘Rated Korina’. However, her general interest program ‘Rated K‘ will continue to air despite her absence.
UPDATE: Korina Sanchez has made a statement regarding her absence, denying that she was either ‘suspended’ or under a ‘leave of absence’. Instead she spoke on the phone during ‘Rated Korina’ today and told the listeners that she was taping episodes of ‘Rated K’ in typhoon-stricken Leyte as part of her work.
From the Tube 