For the first time, Annabelle Rama answered the nagging question of showbiz reporters, "Totoo bang lilipat si Richard Gutierrez sa ABS-CBN?"
After the press conference of her newest product endorsement, Circulan, at Annabel's restaurant on Timog Avenue, Quezon City, Annabelle sat down with showbiz reporters and explained everything about the rumored transfer of her son and talent Richard. (Click here to read related article)
"Actually, ngayon lang ako magsasalita, ha, kasi never akong nag-comment," Annabelle started her lengthy explanation. "Hindi ba, tinatanong ako, di ba? Never akong nag-comment sa video at saka sa print.
"Ngayon, magko-comment ako kasi para manahimik na sila. Kaya lumabas na lilipat kami dahil hindi nga ako nag-comment. Meron lang kasing chismoso sa GMA [network] na narinig na hindi ako nag-renew [ng contract]."
THE HINDRANCE. At first, Annabelle vaguely answered the media about why they were having second thoughts of renewing Richard's contract with GMA network.
"Is it because of the talent fee?" asked one of the reporters.
Annabelle immediately answered, "Ako kasi, hindi naman sa pera, e. Kasi kung talent fee, walang problema. Sa talent fee, hindi ako kinakausap. Yes, wala akong problema sa talent fee, okay na kami [GMA network]."
Then, she finally revealed why they have not yet decided to renew their contract.
Annabelle opened up to the media, "Hindi kami nag-renew kasi nagkaroon ng problema sa GMA-7—hindi sa mga Gozon, doon sa mga staff—na hindi pa nasu-solve. Kailangan kasi ma-solve muna lahat ng problema na yun bago ka pumirma. At ang gusto ko rin, nakalatag lahat ng projects niya for two years. Kasi ang two years, mahirap 'yang two years, baka every month maghingi ka pa. Mukha kang kawawa, ‘Ano bang klaseng project 'to, di ba?"
TOO-GOOD-TO-REFUSE OFFER. In a report saying Richard might move to ABS-CBN, it was also mentioned that Richard's camp has received a "too-good-to-refuse" offer from the Kapamilya network.
This was clarified right away by Jun Lalin, publicist of the Gutierrez family. Speaking on behalf of Annabelle, he told PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal), "Nakakahiya on the part of the Gutierrezes, na baka sabihin we are really entertaining such offer, at nakakahiya rin sa ABS dahil wala naman talagang ganoon. Hindi kami nagre-react noon sa mga blind item dahil hindi nga totoo. Pero nagulat kami na naisulat na rin pala na may ganito ngang offer daw." (Click here to read full article)
On the other hand, when Annabelle was asked if the offer was true, she answered, "Actually, yung offer, hindi naman mawawala yun, e."
Then, she said that the "lipatan" issue never came from them nor they were using ABS-CBN to make Richard's talent fee in GMA-7 higher.
She said, "Kasi, unang-una, papaano namang malalaman ng ABS-CBN na wala na kaming [kontrata] sa GMA-7? Wala naman kaming sinasabi sa kanila at never naman akong lumapit. Ako, never akong lumapit at saka never akong gumagawa ng ano sa ABS-CBN para tumaas ang talent fee.
"Noong lumabas sa isang newspaper yung [isyu na] baka lumipat, yung talent fee ni Richard, nandiyan na, napag-usapan na namin. Kaya hindi yun ang reason na lilipat kami [dahil] baka tataasan ang presyo.
