Columnist Ricky Lo reportedly confirmed GMA7-TV5 merger on his Funfare post at PhilStar on Monday, June 4, 2012. According to Lo, Manny V. Pangilinan announced the merger during the Sanfo launch of TV5 in Northern California.

The report said, “This (GMA-TV5 merger) was virtually confirmed by Kapatid big boss Manny V. Pangilinan during the presscon last Saturday in San Francisco where a partnership between TV5 and Dish Network was formally signed, called Dish Ko ’To, promoting the combined channels of GMA Pinoy TV and Kapatid TV5,” Lo wrote.

Lo also added that the details about the presscon can be read on Raymond de Asis Lo’s report on tomorrow’s issue of The Philippine Star.

However, comedian Arnell Ignacio said on his official Twitter account that the GMA7-TV5 merger is not true. He posted a photo of MVP’s statement regarding the issue.

The message reads, “MVP: You know Arnel, all i said was – please support TV5 here in the states. And by the way, please support GMA7 too (since Dish carries GMA). That was all. NO MENTION OF MERGER, INVESTMENT, COMBINATION. Certainly, no mention of November deadline or any deadline at all. Sure, some people speculated and all I said was I can now say we, re under discussion but nothing was finalized at this time.”

Meanwhile, GMA Network chairman Felipe Gozon insisted they are not selling the network, but are open to any possible buyout offers.

GMA 7 on Tuesday denied rumors that TV5 Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan is buying GMA 7 Network.

In a press release, GMA 7 said there’s no truth to the rumor that is circulating that MVP has bought GMA 7. In fact, there are no negotiations going on between GMA 7 and MVP for the latter’s purchase of GMA 7.

The Kapuso Network also confirmed to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) that there’s no truth to rumors that Pangilinan offered to buy GMA 7 for P500 billion.

Watch the video below courtesy of GMA 7 News and Public Affairs.