Ed Lingao Defends Himself After Jasmine Curtis-Smith Questions Their Reactions
ED LINGAO – The veteran broadcast journalist responded to criticisms from actress Jasmine Curtis-Smith after she questioned the reactions of him and fellow journalist Manny Mogato during their interview with Quezon City Rep. Bong Suntay.
The interview, which aired on their program “Storycon,” followed Suntay’s controversial remarks involving Anne Curtis, Jasmine’s sister, during a congressional hearing on the impeachment complaint against Vice President Sara Duterte.
During the interview, Suntay defended himself, insisting that his comments about Anne Curtis were neither immoral nor disrespectful, even claiming he felt flustered upon seeing the actress at a hotel. Jasmine shared the interview video on her social media and criticized Lingao and Mogato, questioning why the two male hosts were laughing while asking Suntay questions and implying that their reactions were inappropriate.
In response, Lingao clarified on his Facebook page that he and Mogato were not laughing at the seriousness of the issue. He asked whether Jasmine had watched the full interview before reacting and explained that some viewers misinterpreted their laughter as fear or approval.
Lingao stressed that their reaction reflected a different threshold for humor and that the laughter was more about Suntay’s absurd and evasive responses than condoning him. He also addressed claims that interviewing Suntay gave him a platform, pointing out that asking questions is part of journalism and that the gender of the hosts does not undermine the validity of the interview.
Public reactions were mixed. Some defended Lingao and Mogato, noting that their laughter was a natural way to navigate an awkward situation and to highlight how ridiculous Suntay’s answers were. Others criticized them for giving him a platform. Lingao emphasized that their intent was never to belittle anyone but to hold the lawmaker accountable while maintaining professional composure.
Related Post: Jasmine Curtis-Smith Slams Congressman Over Remarks About Her Sister Anne Curtis