PUSH: No restraining order yet on Willie Revillame

ABS-CBN lawyers and Willie Revillame met today at Branch 84 of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court for the hearing for the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction. Last October 4, ABS-CBN filed the petition for TRO to stop Willie from airing his new show on another network said to be scheduled on October 23. ABS-CBN argued that Willie is still under contract with them until September 2011, thus Willie cannot appear in any other station. This came after confirmation that Willie, a five-year host of the now defunct ABS-CBN program Wowowee, is launching a new show on another TV station.

However, after almost three hours in session, the court, under Judge Luisito Cortez, deferred its decision on the TRO filed by ABS-CBN against Willie and his new program. According to ABS-CBN chief legal counsel Atty. Maxim Uy, their motion was submitted to the judge for study, but the decision will be released only after October 15. This means if Willie decides to begin his new show on the other network before October 15, ABS-CBN cannot do anything.

Nevertheless, lawyers of the Kapamilya network argued at the hearing that ABS-CBN did its part in reminding Willie about the provisions of his contract to which he must abide. After Willie signed a contract with another network to host a new show, ABS-CBN decided to file a 468 million-peso suit for breach of contract against its former talent. Lawyers of ABS-CBN added that the court can still release a decision anytime.

Despite this legal rift, Willie told reporters after the hearing that he is still grateful to ABS-CBN. He said, “Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Boss Gabby (Lopez, Chairman and CEO of ABS-CBN), kay Ma’am Charo (Santos-Concio, ABS-CBN President), sa lahat. [Pero] mas malaki ang utang na loob ko sa mga tao dahil sila talaga ang nagbalik sa akin. It’s not Boss Gabby, not Ma’am Charo. Ang tao pa rin ang magdedesisyon.”  via Napoleon Quintos http://www.push.com.ph/news-feature/651/No-restraining-order-yet-on-Willie-Revillame.aspx



ABS-CBN’S Official Statement on the court's decision to defer judgement on its petition for a TRO vs. Willie Revillame


ABS-CBN releases its new statement on the TRO issue vs. Willie Revillame: 

"ABS-CBN’s application for TRO has been submitted for resolution of the Judge, who ordered both parties to file all pleadings by Oct 15, after which he shall decide on the application.

ABS-CBN reiterates that the issue on Willie Revillame is all about honoring a contract. To the Kapamilya network, it is the ethical and right thing to do.  It is a noble act of a person who values honesty and integrity. 

So when Willie chose to ignore his contract with ABS-CBN, we were left with no choice but to ask the court to intervene. We have not been negligent in reminding Willie about his contract obligations and when he asked for the rescission of his contract, ABS-CBN chose to apply for a TRO and fight for what is right and honorable."