CA junks GMA7 suit vs ABS-CBN over OFW video

MANILA, Philippines—The Court of Appeals (CA) has again thrown out a P100-million damage suit filed by GMA7 Network Inc. against rival ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. in 2004.

GMA7 had sued ABS-CBN for accusing GMA7 of “stealing” its video footage of the arrival of overseas Filipino worker Angelo de la Cruz, who was returning home after he was released by Iraqi insurgents.

In dismissing GMA7’s motion for reconsideration, the appellate court said it found “no cogent reason” to sanction the reversal of its August 15 decision, which granted ABS-CBN’s petition to dismiss the case.

In its earlier resolution, the appellate court overturned the ruling of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 216 Judge Ofelia Arellano Marquez dated Dec. 17, 2007, which reinstated GMA7’s civil suit against ABS-CBN.

It also nullified Marquez’s July 18, 2008, decision, which denied ABS-CBN’s appeal, saying the judge violated the Rules of Court when she ordered the reinstatement of GMA 7’s damage suit despite the pendency of a libel case that GMA7 filed against ABS-CBN regarding the same incident.

In suing ABS-CBN, the GMA7 network denied stealing its rival’s exclusive live TV coverage of De la Cruz’s arrival and press conference at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

GMA7 said it got the live feed from Reuters Television Service as part of its subscription contract with the foreign media firm.

However, Reuters’ agreement with ABS-CBN stated that the former should put on embargo exclusive footages that the latter would provide to prevent local rival networks from using them.