ABS-CBN 'disappointed but not surprised' by GMA 7 suit

Television network ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. on Thursday said it is "disappointed but not surprised" by the civil action libel suit filed by rival network GMA. GMA Network Inc. on Thursday filed a P15-million civil action libel suit against ABS-CBN, its executives and talents over what GMA said were false and malicious allegations of television ratings manipulation. As of posting time, ABS-CBN has yet to receive a formal copy of the complaint, said Bong Osorio, Corporate Communications head of ABS-CBN, in a statement. "We continue to stand by our earlier news reports that AGB Nielsen Media Research General Manager Maya Reforma identified GMA-7 as the broadcast network behind the efforts that compromised panel homes in Bacolod," the ABS-CBN statement said. GMA Network, in a statement released Thursday, said the case stemmed from alleged "erroneous and malicious news reports and commentaries" aired by ABS-CBN in its TV and radio programs. GMA Network demanded P10 million from ABS-CBN for moral damages, P2.5 million for exemplary damages, P1.5 million for attorney's fees and P1 million for litigation expenses. Named as respondents in the libel case were DZMM station manager Angelo Palmones; DZMM news manager Alona Magtalas; DZMM reporter Junrie Hidalgo; DZMM hosts Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito; Bandila over-all-in-charge of production Luchi Cruz-Valdes; Bandila executive producer Boyet Agustin; Legal department head Maximilian Uy; Bandila host Korina Sanchez; Entertainment Live over-all-in-charge of production Malou Santos and Luis Andrada; Entertainment Live EP Lani Gutierrez; Entertainment Live and The Buzz headwriter Romer Gonzales; The Buzz EP Nancy Yabut; and The Buzz headwriter Ian Reyno. "In reckless disregard of truth, with malice, and in bad faith, and with obvious intent to defame the plaintiff and ridicule it before the public, defendant ABS-CBN distorted, spliced off, and suppressed the accurate and complete statements of Ms. Reforma and made it appear that plaintiff rigged, manipulated the ratings in Bacolod City and that Ms. Reforma admitted in that ambush interview that plaintiff was behind ratings manipulation," GMA Network said in the charge sheet, referring to a radio dzMM interview with AGB Nielsen managing director Maya Reforma. "Plaintiff has never engaged in manipulation or rigging of ratings in Bacolod City, as alleged by ABS-CBN, or elsewhere to obtain or secure its No. 1 status in the ratings," GMA Network said. GMA Network said the report by dzMM reporter Hidalgo, stated: "Tahasang inamin na ngayon ng AGB Nielsen Media Research na ang GMA Network ang siyang nasa likod ng sinasabing pagmamanipula ng survey ng television ratings sa Bacolod," despite Reforma's denial in an affidavit of such accusation. In the charge sheet, GMA Network also said that various radio and television programs belonging to ABS-CBN repeated the accusations against GMA Network. GMA Network has categorically denied the accusations noting that AGB Nielsen officials themselves belied the report, and cleared GMA of the accusations. The Network also said that the "systematic and repetitious airing" of "malicious statements" by ABS-CBN in different programs, by different anchors and talents, and on different dates show the acts were “orchestrated, scripted, and intentionally perpetrated to defame, impeach, and besmirch the reputation of GMA 7." - GMANews.TV (GMANews.TV is the official website of GMA News and Public Affairs, a unit of GMA Network Inc.)