ABS-CBN has released an official statement regarding the libel case filed by GMA-7 nine years ago, and it says that “the libel charge has no basis in fact and law.”
The libel charge stemmed from the ABS-CBN coverage last July 22, 2004 of the arrival of OFW Angelo dela Cruz who was abducted in Iraq. The same video appeared on GMA-7, thus, prompting ABS-CBN to say that their exclusive video was stolen by the rival network.
The Kapuso Network, on the other hand, said that the video was syndicated from Reuters so they have the permission to use it. They filed libel charges against the whole news team at that time, including the network’s chairman Eugenio Lopez III, for defamatory remarks made.
Nine years after on February 18, 2013, a warrant of arrest was issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court against the libel case respondents - ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio ‘Gabby’ Lopez III, the network’s journalists Annie Eugenio, Dondi Garcia, Lynda Jumilla, Maria Progena Estonillo Reyes, Jose Ramon Olives and Jesus Maderazo, and former employees Beth Frondoso, Erwin Tulfo, Luis Alejandro, Jose Magsaysay Jr., Alfonso Marquez and Luchi Cruz-Valdes.
The chairman, together with the other respondents, posted bail on the same day.
Here’s the official statement of ABS-CBN:
The respondents to the libel case have voluntarily surrendered to the court and posted bail in accordance with law. They nevertheless firmly maintain that the libel charge has no basis in fact and law.
In truth, it was the complainant who used ABS-CBN footage without its authority and consent and was thus charged by ABS-CBN with copyright infringement.
It is unfortunate that the respondents are being pilloried as criminals, when in fact, it was ABS-CBN whose rights were violated. They are confident that this libel suit will eventually be dismissed.
The respondents will avail themselves of all legal remedies to question the findings of probable cause for the arrest warrants issued by the RTC of Quezon City.
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