Supreme Court favors Willie Revillame in dispute with ABS-CBN, his former network.
WILLIE REVILLAME – The Supreme Court junked ABS-CBN Corporation’s more than P1-billion counterclaim versus the television host.
After many years, issues were finally resolved. The Supreme Court has dismissed the counterclaims of ABS-CBN in its dispute with television personality Willie Revillame. This is regarding his sudden decision to leave as the main host of the “Wowowee” which was 13 years ago.
To recall, in 2008, Willie signed a three-year contract with the company to host the said show. In 2010, Revillame asked the network to terminate Jobert Sucaldito as he was always criticizing his program but ABS-CBN did not do anything about this.
On May 5, 2010, Revillame did not appear in his program and on May 24 of that same year, he ask the network to let go of him. Again, ABS-CBN did not pay attention to this and instead, he was given a 3-month suspension without salary.
Things have gotten haywire between the television host and the network.
On August 23, 2010, the host filed a civil action before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) asking to cancel, terminate, and rescind his three-year contract.
On September 15, 2010, ABS-CBN filed its Answer with Compulsory Counterclaim. In the document, it asked for liquidated damages in the amount of more than Php 700 million and Php 400 million for the violations the host has committed.
A month after, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction was filed to prevent Revillame from hosting a show on TV5 with a similar format to the one he left in ABS-CBN. This was denied by the RTC but Willie has to post a bond of Php 426,917,646.96.
ABS-CBN then went on to file a complaint with the Makati RTC for copyright infringement against the host, ABC Corp., Wilproductions Inc., and one Ray Espinosa. But CA dismissed the copyright infringement complaint.
ABC Corp. filed a motion to dismiss ABS-CBN’s compulsory counterclaim which was granted by the RTC but the network appealed and this was granted resulting in the reinstatement of the compulsory counterclaim as per a post from PEP.
This was challenged by the television host.
And recently, a 22-page Decision penned by Justice Maria Filomena D. Singh was released. The issued decision stated that the counterclaim is dismissed. ABS-CBN was found guilty of “forum shopping” for the copyright infringement complaint versus Revillame.
“ABS-CBN’s Compulsory Counterclaim in Civil Case No. Q-10-67770 be dismissed”
The resolution stated towards the end:
Finally, the issue on judicial courtesy raised by ABS-CBN in G.R. No. 236167 is now also moot in view of the Court’s Resolution in G.R. No. 201664. Civil Case No. Q-10-67770 pending before the relevant branch of the RTC-Quezon City should continue to its conclusion.
WHEREFORE, the Petitions for Review filed by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation in G.R. No. 221781 and G.R. No. 225095 are DISMISSED. The Petition for Review filed by Willie B. Revillame in G.R. No. 236167 is PARTIALLY GRANTED.
The Decision, dated May 30, 201 7 of the Com1 of Appeals (Fonner Special 7th Division) in CA-G.R. CV No. 100369 is REVERSED insofar only as it reinstated ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation’s compulsory counterclaims in Civil Case No. Ql 0-67770, which is declared DISMISSED with prejudice.
SO ORDERED.
Meanwhile, in a previous article, Willie can no longer return to ABS-CBN. This story came from Ogie Diaz who said that a top executive, whom he refused to name, will resign once he returns.
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