Courtesy of Abante-Tonite:
QC-RTC denies GMA Network’s application for preliminary injunction
The regional trial court denied GMA Network’s application for a preliminary injunction which would have prevented ABS-CBN from broadcasting defamatory reports that GMA Network manipulated AGB television ratings.
The order was given by Judge Alexander Balut.
Balut is the third judge to preside over the case.
ABS-CBN had the two judges who earlier handled the case inhibit themselves.
Current Judge Balut allowed what the previous judge found irrelevant -- and that was to allow more testimonies from other ABS CBN informants.
In the hearing before judge Balut, these ABS-CBN informants admitted they had no proof of employment with GMA, no ID, no contracts.
In his order, Judge Balut said a preliminary injunction would interfere with ABS-CBN’s freedom of expression.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, GMA Network legal counsel Gener Asuncion said, “Freedom of expression does not mean they (ABS-CBN) have the right to destroy another’s reputation. An abuse of a freedom also destroys it.”
Nevertheless, Judge Balut’s order also warned ABS-CBN from using “free expression as an instrument to perpetrate unlawful ends to the obstruction of the administration of justice.”
“This is not the end of the libel suit. ABS-CBN wanted the end of the TRO and they wanted to block the injunction because ABS-CBN wanted to continue attacking the reputation of GMA Network. We will try not to let them do this,” Asuncion said.
QC-RTC denies GMA Network’s application for preliminary injunction
The regional trial court denied GMA Network’s application for a preliminary injunction which would have prevented ABS-CBN from broadcasting defamatory reports that GMA Network manipulated AGB television ratings.
The order was given by Judge Alexander Balut.
Balut is the third judge to preside over the case.
ABS-CBN had the two judges who earlier handled the case inhibit themselves.
Current Judge Balut allowed what the previous judge found irrelevant -- and that was to allow more testimonies from other ABS CBN informants.
In the hearing before judge Balut, these ABS-CBN informants admitted they had no proof of employment with GMA, no ID, no contracts.
In his order, Judge Balut said a preliminary injunction would interfere with ABS-CBN’s freedom of expression.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, GMA Network legal counsel Gener Asuncion said, “Freedom of expression does not mean they (ABS-CBN) have the right to destroy another’s reputation. An abuse of a freedom also destroys it.”
Nevertheless, Judge Balut’s order also warned ABS-CBN from using “free expression as an instrument to perpetrate unlawful ends to the obstruction of the administration of justice.”
“This is not the end of the libel suit. ABS-CBN wanted the end of the TRO and they wanted to block the injunction because ABS-CBN wanted to continue attacking the reputation of GMA Network. We will try not to let them do this,” Asuncion said.
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