Sarah Lahbati
MANILA, Philippines—Broadcast network GMA 7 has agreed to withdraw the civil case it filed against former contract artist Sarah Lahbati if the actress would pay for P8.5 million in damages, according to its chair and CEO Felipe L. Gozon.
“I’d withdraw (the case) if she’d pay up,” Gozon said in a phone interview on Friday morning. “Ayaw ko nang patagalin ito. I’m not sure if this is also what she would want. If not, we can always go through the trial.”
On January 11, GMA 7 filed a P8.5-million civil suit for “specific performance with damages” against Lahbati for breach of contract before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. According to the complaint, Lahbati’s “continuous dishonor and flagrant violations of her obligations to perform her role as an artist in GMA 7’s TV programs is highly detrimental to the entertainment TV block of GMA 7; thus requiring Lahbati to immediately discharge her contractual obligations with GMA 7.”
Asked to comment to a report that Lahbati’s camp was considering settlement, Gozon replied: “Remember that we are the aggrieved party or the complainant here. She should first make a proposal. Until then, I cannot comment on any settlement.”
Lahbati left for Switzerland in January. On Thursday night, she returned to Manila via Etihad Airways flight 428 from Abu Dhabi. She was accompanied by boyfriend, actor Richard Gutierrez.
She posted a P10,000 bail before the Makati City Regional Trial Court shortly after her return. The bail was for the libel suit filed against her by GMA Films president Annette Gozon-Abrogar (Gozon’s daughter) over negative comments the young actress posted on her Twitter account.
“We welcome her return,” Gozon told the Inquirer. “I’m glad that she is facing these cases as she should.”
Abrogar, on Friday morning, said: “I’ve been hearing of her plan to come home so the news didn’t surprise me anymore. I’m happy that she’s back because this means we can finally move on with the case. If all that she said on Twitter were true, this is her chance to present her evidence.”
Lahbati had accused Abrogar of engaging in “under-the-table deals” with another talent management group. In June, the Makati City Prosecutor’s Office announced that it found probable cause to charge Lahbati with libel.
Gozon said he advised Abrogar to carry on with the trial and to not agree to a settlement. “The people want to know if there is any truth to the accusation. The best way to prove falsity or truth is through a trial in court. A retraction may not be enough,” he pointed out. “However, this is my personal opinion. Everything will still depend on Annette.”
Gozon then stressed the importance to GMA network of the enforcement of all existing contracts with its talents. “If you remember, we filed a case against (radio disc jockey) Mo Twister for breach of contract (in 2010). We don’t want others to think they can do the same thing to the network,” he said. “Always, if I think I’m right about something, I’d go out to prove it. The network is not here for publicity. It is merely availing its rights under the law.”