QC Prosecutor's Office dismisses Annabelle Rama's "grave oral defamation" case against Wilma Galvante

Erwin Santiago
"Carpe diem!"
Thursday, August 13, 2009 @ 03:25PM  |  397 views

"While it is true that respondent had no right to interfere with the contract between the complainant and her talent, respondent has every right to protect the interest of the network she represents, being the Vice President of the Entertainment Division of GMA. She cannot be prevented from reminding contracted talents and managers of the possible consequences of any failure to comply with the Management contract," writes Assistant City Prosecutor Ronald Torralba in his resolution dismissing the grave oral defamation case filed by talent manager Annabelle Rama (right) against TV executive Wilma Galvante (left).

Photo By: Noel Orsal













Ibinasura ng Office of the Quezon City Prosecutor ang kasong Grave Oral Defamation o grave slander na isinampa ng talent manager na si Annabelle Rama laban sa GMA-7 SVP for Entertainment TV Wilma Galvante dahil sa "lack of probable cause."

Ang rekomendasyon ay ginawa ni Assistant City Prosecutor Ronald C. Torralba. At inaprubahan ito nina First Assistant City Prosecutor Meynardo M. Bautista Jr. at Second Assistant City Prosecutor Alfredo P. Agcaoili. Ibinaba ang desisyon sa kasong ito noong July 24, 2009.

Matatandaang isinampa ni Annabelle ang reklamong grave oral defamation kay Ms. Galvante noong April 14, 2009 dahil sinisiraan siya diumano ng lady executive sa kanyang mga alaga, partikular na sa young actor na si JC de Vera. Ito ay nangyari nang ikulong diumano ni Ms. Galvante si JC sa kanyang opisina noong February 16, 2009. (Click here to read related story.)

"NOTHING DEROGATORY NOR INSULTING." Ayon sa resolution ni Asst. City Prosecutor Torralba, hindi siya kumbinsido na dapat maging liable ang respondent (Ms. Galvante) sa grave oral defamation case base sa mga tanong at komento diumano ng TV executive kay JC, gaya ng mga sumusunod:

"Tingnan mo? Tingnan mo kung ano ang ginagawa ng manager mo?"

"Hindi kayo puwedeng tumanggi sa show at kung tumanggi kayo, puwede kayo mademanda."

"They were just tolerating Annabelle, because when she didn't like a project, she would pull out her talents pag malapit na ang show. Pero sobra na."

"Happy ka ba sa manager mo? Ilan taon pa ba ang kontrata mo sa kanya?

"May kopya ka ba ng contract mo with Annabelle? Puwede ko bang makita?"

"If there is anything I can help you with, just tell me."

Ayon kay Asst. City Prosecutor Torralba: "Contrary to the theory of the complainant [Annabelle] that said statements are defamatory, insulting, malicious, and tend to prejudice complainant in her reputation, office or trade, business or means of livelihood, the undersigned finds nothing derogatory nor insulting to the complainant but rather finds the said statements to be more of a reminder to JC that they could be held liable in case they fail to comply with their contract with the network than a malicious or defamatory statement.

"That while it is true that respondent had no right to interfere with the contract between the complainant and her talent, respondent has every right to protect the interest of the network she represents, being the Vice President of the Entertainment Division of GMA. She cannot be prevented from reminding contracted talents and managers of the possible consequences of any failure to comply with the Management contract."

NO INTENT TO MALIGN. Idinagdag din ng assistant prosecutor na walang ebidensiya na magpapatunay na may pre-arranged plan na kausapin si JC dahil spontaneous naman daw ang meeting na naganap sa pagitan ng young actor at ni Ms. Galvante.

Resulta lamang daw ito ng concern ni Ms. Galvante kay JC, na nakitang umiiyak sa labas ng kanyang opisina pagkatapos malaman ng young actor ang pagkakaalis niya sa programang Obra.

"Such fact negates the existence of intent to malign on the part of the respondent which is an essential element of the crime of Grave Oral Defamation. In crimes penalized under the Revised Penal Code, criminal intent is very material. As already stated, if one element of the crime is absent, the crime does not exist."

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