The misunderstanding between Richard Gutierrez and PEP (Philippine Entertainment Portal) melted away last Tuesday, February 9, after the two parties finally made peace in the presence of Sec. Agnes Devanadera at the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) in Manila.
After editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon formally read PEP's statement of apology, Richard Gutierrez withdrew his 25-million libel suit.
The actor was smiling when he talked to the press and media people, "Gumaan ang loob ko dahil tapos na rin ito," Richard told Gorgy Rulla of Startalk. "It has come to an end peacefully and parang nahanap ko rin sa puso ko iyong patawad, ang sarap sa pakiramdam. Tuloy na ang relationship namin ng PEP once again kasi, ever since before naman, mabuti naman iyong relationship namin with PEP until this happened."
"This" pertained to a report about his alleged "heated altercation" with Michael Flores, which was inadvertently uploaded on the website last March 30, 2009.
PEP editors were equally glad that Richard accepted their apologies.
Managing editor Karen Pagsolingan said, "I'm very happy. I never had anything against the Gutierrez family, so when the libel case was filed, it became quite difficult—and at some point, awkward—whenever we were in the same room with the people whom we used to consider as part of the PEP family. I also felt very relieved, because it's hard to move when there's a 25-million libel case attached to your name. Showbiz is such a small, small world. Thank God, lahat masaya na ngayon!"
Ms. Maglipon echoed the feeling, "On a personal level, I feel at peace. Showbiz is a very small community. Though you will not compromise your coverage by saying good things about people you don't really want to say good things about, in this case, PEP made a mistake, and it has chosen to correct itself—again. It's the right thing to do, and I hope that the showbiz community appreciates that."
After the two shook hands, Sec. Devanadera, who headed the peacemaking process, heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Tapos na. They just did a peace pact, that's what I call it. We always would want parties to enter the peace pact."
RICHARD'S PARENTS RESPOND. Annabelle Rama, who was present at the DOJ meeting, was also elated. "Masayang-masaya ako," she told Gorgy Rula of Startalk. "At least iyong wish ko sa kanya [tRichard] noong birthday niya, natupad. Sabi ko sa birthday niya, sana lahat ng problema niya matapos ngayong 2010. Maraming-maraming salamat, at least natapos na iyong problema ng anak ko."
Is the feud between PEP and the Gutierrez family truly over?
Richard's mom answered, "Oo naman. Kasi naman nakita ko iyong sincerity ni Jo-Ann sa pag-apologize niya. Galing sa puso, kaya alam mo naman ako, kapag nagso-sorry, okay na sa akin. Hindi ako nagtatanim ng galit."
After that day, the friendship between the two ladies is expected to be, in Annabelle's words, "back to normal."
"Kasi pag bumati ako ng isang tao, pag bati-bati na, wala na iyong sama ng loob," she explained. "Tsismisan kami ulit sa telepono."
Eddie Gutierrez was glad about the outcome of his son's case, and lauded Ms. Maglipon for coming up with a touching personal note. (CLICK HERE to read related story.)
"Masayang masaya ako dahil it's over, at ang ganda naman ng pagka-apologize ng PEP at ni Jo-Ann, at talaga namang magkabigan kami noong araw pa. Wala naman kaming problema sa isa't isa. We were always a very happy group."
Before the March 29 incident, PEP and the Gutierrezes had a very good relationship. In her personal note, Maglipon described the family as "allies and friends." The communication lines were cut last April 13, 2009, the day Richard filed his libel suit against PEP.
Acknowledging the hurt on both sides while the case was ongoing, Jo-Ann said she anticipates a bit of awkwardness during the early stage of the reconciliation period.
She said, "We do not expect a showbiz miracle with Richard Gutierrez, for instance, who tends to be more shy and more deliberate about how he conducts his friendships and his social life. So, we are willing to wait for that moment when he can come around and become a friend again.
"But the same holds true for reporter Bong Godinez and our managing editor Karen Pagsolingan. I do not expect them to suddenly turn around and forget all the nights that they spent worrying about how to get their job done right and well, while the pressure of libel suit was ongoing.
"With Tita Annabelle, I think the segue into the old days will be a little smoother, a little faster, and a little quicker because that is her personality—outburst and then grand reconciliation, emotional highs and emotional lows. Her emotions are in the extreme. But people with emotional extremes are also those who can jump back right away, if they wish.
"Where I'm concerned, I will just take it by the day, with every press conference, with every launch, with every event, with every birthday party. I will see how the situation will lighten, how the environment will be, and then I shall react. But as far as goodwill is concerned for the Gutierrez family, I have that."
FRUITFUL MEDIATION. The reconciliation was brokered by GMA Films president Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar. It was late last year when she arranged a meeting between Annabelle and the lady boss of PEP, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng.
Atty. Annette recalled, "Actually nagkausap kami ni Lisa Gokongwei isang araw. Na-bring up iyong topic sa case ni Richard Gutierrez with PEP, so parang napag-usapan namin. Mahirap naman kasi talaga iyong magkaroon ng mga kaso dito sa showbiz. Sabi namin, baka naman may possibility na kapag mas nakapag-usap, e, maka-reach ng settlement, or parang magkaayos na hindi na kailangan pang dumaan sa court. So, iyon nga, na-bring up ko kina Tita Annabelle, and willing naman sila, so nagkaroon kami ng meeting with Lisa and Tita Anabelle. Iyong initial meeting, and after that, iyon na, nabuo na ang settlement."
After that, the talks that transpired were between the lawyers, who advised their clients to set aside all the bad vibes.
Maglipon related, "With the legal details, we had been enjoined by our lawyers to try to sidestep the details, to—in effect—sidestep the merits and demerits of the case, to not get into a debate over what really happened, when it went worst, how it should have gone. Because we do not want to revive old hurts and old misunderstandings.
"So, let's just give it to Atty. Annette Gozon-Abrogar and Ms. Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng, who made this possible...made this settlement happen. Ms. Gokongwei, by shepherding her PEP Team into an amicable settlement into having the attitude to settle differences, and Atty. Abrogar, by shepherding the Gutierrez family to be open to a settlement."
PEP'S CREDIBILITY. The buzz is that PEP took so long to apologize. But Maglipon clarified, "As far as PEP is concerned, it has proven that the site will not hide behind its status as a media platform. It will subject itself to scrutiny, it will face the brickbats, and when it has to correct itself, it will. The question has been asked, Why did it take so long? Yes and no.
"No, it did not take that long, because from the start, we had been apologizing. However, maybe our apology was not satisfactory to the other party. And yes, it took this long because once it was elevated to the arena of the courts, we entered a different ball game, and we had to follow the rules of that arena, and those rules were far more complex than we would wish them to be, and waiting and patience and delays and consensus meetings were always going to come first, before speed."
Admittedly, the entire hubbub also generated some negative feedback for PEP. The "inadvertent uploading" was deemed a "careless act" by a number of readers. Will admitting the mistake affect the site's credibility?
Ms. Maglipon gave a categorical no.
"In all sincerity," she said, "I think that the credibility of PEP at this stage can only be stronger, better, and more recognized. How many media platforms do you find correcting themselves, apologizing in public, going out of their way to make a correction, and making that apology of nationwide knowledge? How many?
"I think PEP is leading the example on how media organizations must conduct themselves. PEP has also retained its dignity and character throughout the negotiations.
"I have never said anything throughout the course of this libel suit, all the way up to this settlement, that I cannot personally back up. Ms. Pagsolingan and Mr. Godinez are the same way. Where they could not say anything to help ease the process of settlement, they kept quiet. Where they could be valuable, they made themselves available. All told, we did only what we were comfortable with. We did only what we thought was right. We never gave up our principles.
"If that doesn't create credibility, I don't know what will. There is no reporter or editor that is in infallible. I think we have to set the record straight all the time, and pursue our jobs according to the standards we set from the start, when there was no problem. And if we do make a misstep, we correct ourselves."