GMA Network, sinagot ang mga alegasyon ni Sarah Lahbati sa Twitter

Nagbigay ng reaksyon ang aktres na si Sarah Lahbati ukol sa naging opisyal na pahayag ng GMA Network laban sa aktres na unang lumabas sa H.O.T. TV noong Linggo. Gamit ang kanyang Twitter account (@SarahLahbati), ipinahayag ng aktres na di-umano'y pagsasabotahe ang naging pahayag ng Kapuso Network laban sa kanya. Bukod pa rito, isiniwalat niya rin ang dahilan kung bakit siya pumirma ng kontrata sa Royal Artist, ang kompanya ni Annabelle Rama na siyang ina ng kasintahan nitong si Richard Gutierrez, at ang di-umanong "under the table" na ugnayan ng ICONS Management at GMA Artist Center.

Samantala, sa opisyal na pahayag ng GMA Network, sinagot nito ang mga buwelta ng aktres sa kanyang Twitter account. Ito ang opisyal na pahayag ng GMA Network ukol sa naturang isyu:  

In her latest set of tweets today, January 7, Sarah Lahbati is evidently beclouding the real issue – which is whether or not she indeed violated her contract with GMA Network.   Her decision to go on leave, despite the Network’s disapproval, is a violation of her contract with the Network. And her declared trip to Switzerland for an indefinite period, without the prior consent and approval of the Network, will be an additional violation of her contract.   Further, despite the rejection of her leave, she ceased to honor her commitments with the Network including her being part of Party Pilipinas.  Under the provisions of her contract with the Network, specifically Paragraphs 1.3 and 1.4, it is clearly stated that the “artist shall perform the role and appear in the television programs, projects and events assigned to her, and conscientiously fulfill faithfully and promptly any and all engagements/booking contracted to her by GMA.

  Maliban dito, pinabulaanan din ng GMA Network ang ugnayan nila sa ICONS Management.

The supposed referral by some of the Network executives to ICONS Management was again mentioned in Sarah’s tweets. The Network reiterates its earlier statement that it has not authorized any such referrals and that concrete actions have already been taken to address this issue.   In her tweets, Sarah is also asking to be released from her contract with the Network. In the same way that a contract requires the mutual consent of the two parties, there cannot also be a unilateral cancellation of the contract by Sarah alone.   The Network has invested heavily [in] Sarah, being a home-grown exclusive talent and considered as one of GMA’s priority stars. The Network will not simply allow her to walk away from her contract.   Sarah also accused GMA of making 'a one sided story about what’s happening.' She added that she was never asked by HOT TV, which first aired the Network’s statement yesterday, January 6, for her side of the story.   There is absolutely no truth to this. HOT TV, [through] its researcher Malou Santiago, contacted Sarah’s handler, Monica Carla Sevillano, who, in turn, coordinated with Sarah to get her side before the story was aired. Unfortunately, HOT TV did not receive any response from Sarah.

— Mac Macapendeg/BM, GMA News