Ang Kapatiran accepts ABS-CBN's apology

MANILA, Philippines - The Ang Kapatiran Party (AKP) has accepted the letter of apology from television network ABS-CBN for not including its vice presidential bet in the March 21 episode of “Harapan: Vice Presidential Debate” held at La Consolacion College in Manila.

In a letter to AKP president Eric Manalang, Maria Ressa, head of ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs, said it was not their intention to overlook the AKP and they are planning to invite them to other episodes of Harapan as well as other venues for the party’s message to reach the people.

“We assure AKP of our commitment to provide political parties fair time and space during the election period,” Ressa said in her letter, according to the AKP media bureau.

AKP vice presidential bet Dominador Chipeco Jr. said he has accepted the apology of the television network, and stressed that “excellence and fairness are great virtues and forgiveness is no less.”

AKP presidential candidate JC de los Reyes, for his part, said that fairness is among the most essential virtues in society that their party is advocating.

“We fought to uphold it, ABS-CBN rectified their mistake, let’s all move forward to give everybody their due, especially the Filipino people,” he said.

With the letter of apology, the AKP is also set to withdraw its complaint against ABS-CBN before the Commission on Elections for alleged selective coverage, which they claimed is a violation of Republic Act 9006 or the Fair Election Act.

ABS-CBN corporate communications chief Bong Osorio earlier assured the AKP that they will continue the Harapan debate and will include the party in its future episodes.

“Just because they were not included in the earlier episode doesn’t mean they won’t be included in future episodes,” Osorio said.