In a six-page resolution dated June 8, 2010 by acting DOJ secretary Alberto Agra, he found that there is a “probable cause” for the case to continue, contrary to the initial decision of the Quezon City Prosecutors Office which dismissed the suit. Agra also ordered the filing of Information of Slander by the said agency.
The Gutierrez matriarch filed a 25 million-peso grave slander case last April 15, 2009 with ward JC de Vera’s affidavit as the basis of her complaint. According to de Vera’s sworn statement, Galvante made “negative comments” about the way Rama handles her talents’ careers.
“From the sworn statement of Mr. De Vera, it is not difficult to see that the words, in the context expressed by respondent Galvante, are calculated to induce the hearer (De Vera) to suppose and understand that the person against whom they were uttered is guilty of some vice sufficient to impeach her honesty, virtue or reputation, as a talent manager,” Sec. Agra said in his ruling.Rama, in an interview on “TV Patrol World” on June 10, attributed this recent development to the former Kapuso actor, saying, “Alam ko talaga na wala akong koneksyon sa DOJ. Kaya ako nanalo dahil kay JC de Vera. Siya kasi ang witness ko kaya napaburan ‘yung aming ano… na-reverse ‘yung desisyon ng DOJ.”
Meanwhile, Galvante’s lawyer Atty. Freddie Villamor said in a phone interview that they are yet to receive a copy of the resolution.
“If ever there is one na, the resolution is reversing… the resolution of the Quezon City Prosecutors Office, then we’ll be filing our motion for reconsideration,” he said.
According to Article 358 of the Revised Penal Code, oral defamation is punishable by law. If found guilty, one can be held in jail for four years.
De Vera, now a Kapatid star, related in a recent press conference that he is pleased with the DOJ’s decision.
“Obviously, totoo lahat nung sinabi ko, na hindi lang ako gumagawa-gawa ng kuwento. Hindi po ako nasasabihan kung ano 'yong kailangan kong sabihin. Hindi rin po ako sinasabihan ni Tita Annabelle kung ano 'yong kailangan kong gawin. Kung ano 'yong nangyari talaga, 'yon po 'yon. And na-prove naman po namin,” he said.
It is said that there has been a long time feud between the two matriarchs which reached its boiling point last year when the Kapuso network’s Senior Vice-President for Entertainment filed a seven million-peso damage suit and a Temporary Restraining Order against Rama on March 17 for being allegedly threatened by Eddie Gutierrez’s wife through text messages and media interviews.
The alleged threats came out after Galvante had a private meeting with de Vera following his breakdown during the story conference of a now-defunct GMA show, “Obra.” Reports said that the actor cried upon learning that Rama wanted him out of the show. Rama accused Galvante of “harassing” de Vera during the said meeting (de Vera, however, said in his affidavit that he “was not crying or weeping”).
Prior to her counter-claim, Rama filed a Counter Affidavit and Opposition against Galvante’s complaint on April 2, where she also alleged that the Kapuso executive solicited “gifts” from her.
In previous interviews, Rama also accused Galvante of badmouthing her to another one of her talents, Heart Evangelista, who to this day remains a Kapuso; as well as of planting a “conspiracy” against her son, Richard Gutierrez.
Source: MB
