Mariz Umali Addresses Backlash Over Video with Medialdea
MARIZ UMALI – The GMA News anchor denied calling former Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea “matanda” in a viral video circulated online.
The controversy started when a netizen named Queenchubs uploaded a video clip showing Medialdea being taken out of The Hague Penitentiary Institution in the Netherlands on a stretcher. He was being transported to a hospital after suddenly feeling unwell while visiting former President Rodrigo Duterte on March 18, 2025.
The video included a caption questioning if Umali had indeed referred to Medialdea as “matanda.” The clip contained only the voices of Umali and her colleague, with no visible footage of them. The uploader also added subtitles that allegedly quoted Umali saying, “Tingnan mo yung matanda nakabukas yung mata niya kanina tapos nakita niya ako bigla niyang pinikit (laugh).” A male colleague responded, “Korek. Korek.”
In the same video, Umali could be heard telling the person filming, “Kuya, baka kina-capture mo yung sinabi namin,” to which the person replied, “Ate, sorry, naka-live ako.” The viral clip quickly made Umali a trending topic, with Duterte supporters criticizing her remarks.
On March 19, 2025, Umali released a statement on Facebook clarifying that she never referred to Medialdea as “old.” She explained that she was misheard and that she had actually said “mata niya” (his eyes), not “matanda” (old man).
She stated, “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’ [Medialdea], nakabukas siya nung una pero nung nakita niya ako, pinikit.'”
Umali further emphasized that her comment was merely an observation about Medialdea’s reaction during her attempt to interview him. She denied having any intent to disrespect the former official. “It is obvious that I was misheard,” she said. “I hope this clarification helps set the record straight,” she added.
Both Umali and Medialdea were in The Hague for the ongoing International Criminal Court (ICC) hearings on Duterte, who faces charges of crimes against humanity. Medialdea had accompanied Duterte since his arrest by Interpol in the Philippines on March 11, 2025, and represented him during the ICC pre-trial hearing on March 14.
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