GMA News reporter Mariz Umali has denied calling former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea matanda (old man) while reporting on his condition in The Netherlands, where he is serving as one of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s legal counsels.
“I wish to address and clarify an inaccurate claim about me that has gone viral regarding a statement I made about Former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea,” Umali said in an Instagram post.
“A certain vlogger has circulated a post containing my voice, claiming that I referred to Former Executive Secretary Medialdea as ‘matanda’ while he was on a stretcher. This interpretation is inaccurate. What I actually said was, ‘Tingnan mo yung mata niya, nakabukas siya nung una pero nung nakita niya ako, pinikit.’”
Umali explained that she and a stringer were reviewing exclusive footage of Medialdea being taken out of the penitentiary on a stretcher when she made the observation about his eyes—how they were initially open but closed when he saw her approaching for an interview.
“It is obvious that I was misheard. I want to be clear that no disrespect was intended toward Former Executive Secretary Medialdea. I hope this clarification helps set the record straight,” she said.
