Nag-file ng opposition at counter-affidavit ang abogado ni Annabelle Rama sa Quezon City Regional Trial Court noong Huwebes ng hapon, April 2 Ang Counter Affidavit at Opposition ang sagot ni Annabelle sa mga kaso na isinampa laban sa kanya ni Wilma Galvante, SVP for Entertainment TV ng GMA-7, at ng asawa nito na si Eleuterio Galvante. (Click here to read related article.)
Nakakuha ang PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) ng kopya nito. At ilan sa excerpts ng affidavit ni Annabelle ay ang mga sumusunod:
"I am executing the instant affidavit to refute the unfounded and baseless allegation made by the Plaintiff Wilma V. Galvante ("Wilma") in her Complaint in aid case, and to support my Opposition to her Application for Preliminary injunction/TRO.
"At the outset, it is worth pointing out that the allegations contained in the Complaint are primarily hearsay, and full of fabricated stories. For example, in relation to the allegations involving a talent I am managing, JC de Vera (" JC"), the truth is as follows:
"On February 10, 2009, Marilou Billones of GMA 7 informed that JC had been lined-up for a story conference on February 16, 2009 at 4:00 PM for the show OBRA. I was given the impression that JC would have the starring role in the series, so I called JC, informing him that he has a new show entitled OBRA, and that a story conference was scheduled on February 16, but I could not attend because I had a prior scheduled meeting with my lawyer, JC confirmed, and in fact attended the story conference.
"In the afternoon of February 16, 2009, I called up JC and asked him, 'Anong balita sa story conference? 'Maganda ba ang role mo?'
"His answer was 'Ok lang pero ang bida ay si Marvin Agustin.' And I asked him: 'Di ka ba happy sa role mo?' and his answer was: 'Hindi. Kasi, ang akala ko katulad ng ginawa niya na Obra, ako ang lead actor ng show.'
"Because my understanding was that my talent JC would be the lead actor of OBRA, and this was not what happened, I called up the show's Executive Producer Joseph Buncalan ("Otep"), and told him that the role was not that which was agreed upon, and if JC was not the lead actor, then he would not take OBRA, but would take on a show where he was the clear lead actor.
"After my conversation with Otep, I tried to call JC and was surprised when I could not reach him for several minutes. I called Noel Navarro, JC's handler who was with him at that time and learned that JC had been taken to the office of Wilma.
"When I was finally able to call JC after more than 30 minutes, I asked him why he went to Wilma's office and he replied: 'I was ganged up. Dapat ikaw ang sumama sa akin or si Jun Lalin, kasi walang nagawa si Noel Navarro sa nangyari.'
"When I asked Otep to give JC another role in another show where he would be the lead actor, my sole intention was to protect my talent's interests. He is a good actor, with a good fan base, and he deserved to be the lead in a show, not merely a supporting actor.
"However, this good intention was twisted by Wilma and Regina Magno ("Redgie"), and during their conversations with JC conducted without his manager present, they maligned me and attempted to discredit me to my own talent, and they did so at the time when he was vulnerable and emotionally upset.
"Worse, contrary to Wilma's claims in her Complaint, it is clear that the purpose for Redgie's and her conversations with JC on that day was not concern for the young actor, but was for the malicious intention of trying to get JC to break his management contract with me. This can be discerned from the narration of events attested to by JC in his Affidavit submitted simultaneous with my Affidavit. (Click here to read related article.)
"Wilma, in her Complaint, lists numerous news clippings and news reports, and claims that I have made statement that impugn her integrity and reputation.
"Wilma accuses me, in paragraph 65 of the Complaint, of 'blatant lies,' and she claims these lies have disgraced and dishonored her. She claims that my alleged statements to the press are intended to undermine and destroy her good standing, and my supposed acts amount to an attack 'on her integrity and reputation, and geared to demolish her good name which she struggled to build in her over 30 years in the industry.'
"Wilma portrays herself as an upright, honorable GMA executive of untarnished reputation, and it is my lies that are destroying this foundation of integrity, hence I should be held liable for damages, and be made to say nothing.
THE GIFTS. "An examination of the press clippings and news reports reveal that many of the statements supposedly made by me had to do with gifts given to Wilma, and received by her, Wilma impliedly admitted receiving gifts from me when she was interviewed on the TV program Startalk on 07 March 2009 and on the show Showbiz Central on 08 March 2009.
"It appears from those statements that Wilma is not denying that she received gifts from me, what she is denying is that she would extend favors to me because of gifts she received.
"Because in truth and in fact, Wilma accepted, and often directly or indirectly asked me, for gifts. Contrary to her allegations in the Complaint. I am not liable for blatant lies, because if ever I was interviewed, I would always tell the truth.
"I am known to the public for my frankness and candor; as a mother to 'showbiz' personalities, and talent manager to other stars. I always do my best to protect their interests, and defend them in public when they have been wronged or abused.
"I also have the reputation for telling the truth, and it is Wilma who is in fact lying when she says my statements were lies, because any statement I make is true. Wilma claims to be honorable and upright person, and uses this supposed reputation to sue me for damages, but the truth is that her behavior in the exercise of her power as head of the Entertainment Division of GMA Network negates her claim of integrity.
"On so many occasions, some of which I am able to detail below, Wilma solicited gifts and cash from me, and certainly received and accepted all the gifts I gave. To stay in her good graces, I would succumb to her insinuations that I give her gifts or cash.
(Annabelle then enumerated the instances when she allegedly gave gifts and cash to the Plaintiff.)
"I would not have wanted to reveal all the above facts, as many are private. But Wilma has accused me of lying, and said I am liable for damages because of those lies. This narration of events is the only way of refuting the claim that I am a liar; it is the only way to defend myself against this baseless suit.
"From the foregoing, it is clear that Wilma's case against me is baseless, and that the truth belies her claims of integrity.
"I am executing this affidavit to attest to the truth of the foregoing and for whatever legal purpose it may serve."