Julius Babao recalls being bribed during news coverage

It happened a long time ago, but seasoned news anchor and journalist Julius Babao could still remember the first time he was offered a bribe when he was still a newbie in the industry during one of his coverages.

Babao, 54, recalled the incident during a virtual media conference when he was welcomed as the main anchor for TV5's Frontline Pilipinas beginning Feb. 7.

"On GMA Network, I was asked to cover for a trial. And then yung guy lumapit sa akin at nagbigay ng envelope. Pagbukas ko may lamang pera. Naku, hindi ko tatanggapin 'yan sabi ko. Sabi nung guy hindi nakaano na yan para sa'yo. Nerbyos na nerbyos ako sinoli ko yung pera. Sabi nya sa akin thank you ha," said Babao.

"Then tinanong ko yung boss ko, sabi ko ano ba ito? Sabi ng boss ko pag ganun, wag na wag mong tatanggapin. Mali 'yan. Pag tinanggap mo yan, mako-compromise na yung integrity ng ibabalita mo," he added.

Since then, Babao said he has remained firm not to accept anything during news coverages. "Inalagaan ko talaga ang pangalan ko at hindi ako na-involve sa mga scandal."

"Simula noon, everytime na may mag-aabot sa amin, tinatanggihan ko. Kung meron makikipag-meeting sa amin, tinatanggihan ko talaga. Nawi-weird-uhan sila kung bakit ko ginagawa yun pero ganun talaga, I have protected my integrity through the years, na hindi talaga ako tumanggap ng kahit anong suhol mula sa pulitiiko. Kaya maipagmamalaki ko 'yan na kapag ako ay nagsalita, ito talaga yung tutoo," Babao also said.

In the same press conference, Babao revealed he has been offered to seek public office on several occasions. But the news anchor said that he wants to be in the broadcast industry for the longest time.

"May mga nag-alok in the past pero hindi ko naman ine-entertain. Parang hindi ko feel pasukin ang pulitika talaga. Although it has crossed my mind, I must admit. Pero hindi ko talaga sineryoso. Feeling ko once na pumasok ka talaga sa pulitika, medyo maapektuhan na ang iyong pagiging journalist. Ang tingin ko talaga sa sarili ko journalist ako eh more than a politician. Ayokong iwan 'yung profession na pinasok ko and I want to be here for the longest time, hanggang sa mag-retire ako. Hypocrite naman ako kung isasara ko ang pinto ko forever. Hindi naman siguro but if ever that time comes which I don't see right now, dapat hindi na ako connected sa work na related sa journalism. Kailangan independent na ako. Once na pumasok ka sa politics, you join politics all the way. But right now hindi ko iniisip yan," Babao said.

A broadcast personality for over three decades, Babao steps into the frontlines as a “beteranong journo” and “lingkod bayan” to deliver the day’s top stories with fellow veteran anchor Cheryl Cosim. Together they will deliver the most pressing issues on politics, the economy, welfare, and the COVID-19 crisis.

Babao’s transfer to the Kapatid Network raises the ante for TV5 especially as it gears up for its coverage of the elections in May. Babao’s over 30 years of experience serves to add to the combined journalistic expertise of its roster of anchors.

Aside from anchoring Frontline Pilipinas, Babao seeks to continue his life mission of service to Filipinos through a program that aims to extend exceptionally generous assistance to select and deserving small and medium scale enterprise (SMSE) owners and even underground economy-reliant Filipinos even as the country navigates the economic and social challenges ahead.

Babao started his journalistic career with GMA 7’s DZBB in 1990 before moving to ABS-CBN in 1993 as a reporter for its flagship newscast. He later anchored the station’s morning show with his wife Christine Bersola in 1996 and then filled co-anchor duties in various primetime, evening and weekend newscasts before finally wrapping-up his 28-year stint with the Kapamilya Network last year.

Babao said it's an honor to be the replacement of Raffy Tulfo who gave up his stint in "Frontline Pilipinas" to run in the 2022 national elections.

"It's an honor na ako ang maging kapalit ni Raffy Tulfo sa Frontline Pilipinas. Maraming nag a-idolize kay Boss Raffy kasi tumutulong siya sa kapwa. Kapag ang tao ay tumutulong, nakukuha niya ang respeto ng maraming tao. 'Yun ang mga bagay na hinahangaan natin sa tulad nya. I had shows sa ABS-CBN na tumutulong din ako sa mga tao sa abot ng aking makakaya. In so far as kung pinagisipan talaga na kung ako ang papalit kay Raffy, palagay ko nagkataon lang. It just so happened I was there at the right pace and at the right time. Timing lang talaga," Babao added.

TV5 Executive Luchi Cruz-Valdes, however, believes it is not fair to compare Babao to Tulfo, saying both personalities are different from each other.

"Mula't sapul, ginagalang ko rin yung tinatawag namin na equity ng mga anchor. May kanya kanyang personality at advocacy ang mga 'yan eh. Pag kinukuha namin sila, alam namin yung mga strengths, weaknesses. We factor in everything. Raffy is one of a kind, as Julius is. It will be totally unfair for us to expect Julius to fill in the shoes of Raffy. It's not only impossible, but unfair. So no, we don't intend to replace Raffy with somebody like him. I also know that Raffy will continue his cause to give public service, as Julius will always be with us. And we will have a public service segment for Julius," said Valdes.

Babao, husband of television personality Christine Bersola-Babao, said the transition from ABS-CBN to TV5 was very smooth.

"Sinamantala ko talaga na makasama ng isang buong buwan yung family ko. Once na maging busy ako, hindi ko na naman makakasama ng madalas ang pamilya ko on weekdays. Minsan nakakasinggit ako ng vlogging sa YouTube Channel ko. Madali ang naging transition ko sa TV5 because 'yung mga tao na nakakausap ko rito are the people I've worked with. Hindi na ako naiilang. Wala na akong feeling na kinakabahan ako, ninenebryos ako kung ano ang makikita ko rito. Absolutely none kasi marami sa kanila ang kaibigan ko na even before," he said.

When asked if he would have a radio show on Radyo Singko, Babao said: "May talks pero nothing is final. Other responsibilities beyond being a news anchor, hindi ko pa alam pero may iba pa silang plano. I'll always be open to suggestions."

Babao said he would always be grateful to the Kapamilya Network where he really grew up as a journalist.

"It's amazing hindi masyadong marami ang bashers sa paglipat ko. Wala naman akong sama ng loob sa ABS-CBN. We parted ways in good terms. Napanood naman ng mga tao yung final goodbye ko sa ABS-CBN. I will not be here kung hindi ako pinalaki ng ABS-CBN ng tama. I always look up to ABS-CBN as mga magulang ko na nagpalaki sa akin. Parang there will come a time na kailangan mong lumagay sa tahimik, lumipat ng bahay or mag ibang bansa. So kinailangan ko na rin lumipat para malaman ko kung ano ang naghihintay sa akin sa kabilang network."