The Quezon City Regional Trial Court has junked the breach-of-contract suit by GMA Network Inc. against Ms. Luchi Cruz-Valdes, ABS-CBN Head of News Production and Current Affairs.
The issue between Ms. Valdes and GMA-7 escalated after her resignation from the Kapuso Network led to an injunction case filed against her and ABS-CBN, and a breach-of-contract case. The case filed by GMA-7 prevented her from working in ABS-CBN for about eight months, from December 28, 2001 to August 20, 2002.
The court also dismissed the Tortious Interference complaint by the Kapuso Network against ABS-CBN. A "Tortious Interference" occurs when a person disrupts something that belongs to someone else—for example, interfering with a contractual relationship so that one party fails to deliver on time.
In her decision, Judge Marilyn Villordon said Ms. Valdes's resignation from GMA-7 was in accordance with the law and that GMA-7 clearly accepted it. Judge Villordon likewise ruled that ABS-CBN did not induce Ms. Valdes to violate her contract with GMA-7.
The court has ordered GMA-7 to pay Ms. Valdes damages equivalent to the salary
she should have earned when she was prevented from working at ABS-CBN.
At press time, PEP is still waiting for the side of GMA-7 regarding this case, which has been going on for almost seven years.