List of ABS-CBN Controversies

=Legal controversies=

Most of the legal trouble experienced by ABS-CBN in recent years have centered around their noontime variety/game show, Wowowee.

PhilSports Arena stampede

On August 24, 2007, in a 7-page resolution the Department of Justice dismissed criminal charges against Willie Revillame in connection with the infamous PhilSports Arena stampede. But Raul Gonzalez affirmed the charge against 14 other respondents, including ABS-CBN Network officials led by executive vice president Charo Santos Concio. A 5-man DOJ panel of prosecutors led by Atty. Dacera earlier ruled in an 80-page resolution that the organizers of the "Wowowee" game show were guilty of gross negligence. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/57523/(Update)-DOJ-drops-raps-vs-Revillame-over-Ultra-tragedy GMANews.TV, DOJ drops raps vs Revillame over Ultra tragedy] ]

Wowowee Willyonaryo controversy

On August 20, 2007, Wowowee was once again flung into controversy due to the "Wilyonaryo" incident with the supposedly jackpot disc containing two numbers, which became subject to questioning. Host Willie Revillame pulled out a box with a card displaying the number 0 instead of a 2 which represented the P2 million a contestant had given up for a smaller prize. The incident drew angry reactions from viewers who said it proved that the host had a choice on whether to award the jackpot or not. ABS-CBN Corporate Communications Vice-President, Mr. Bong Osorio, later explained the error was a design flaw. [ [http://www.pep.ph/news/14588/ABS-CBN-explains-Hello-Pappy-incident-as-a-design-flaw ABS-CBN explains "Hello Pappy" incident as a "design flaw"] ] . A few weeks later, Wilyonaryo was discontinued and replaced by a different game called "Merrygalo".

Ratings controversy

On December 20, 2007, Judge Charito Gonzales, Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 80 released a temporary restraining order on TV ratings surveys based on a civil case filed by ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation versus AGB Nielsen Media Research Philippines. ABS-CBN accused "a certain television network" of funding bribing operations at Bacolod to discredit the former. [cite news|url=http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2007/dec/20/yehey/top_stories/20071220top1.html|work=manilatimes.net|title=GMA 7 tagged in scandal|date=2007-12-20] [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/topofthehour.aspx?StoryId=103037 ABS-CBN Interactive, Court issues TRO on AGB Nielsen ratings surveys] ] The Court further ordered ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation to file comment on the plea of AGB Nielsen for the alleged gathering and dissemination of television ratings data, within 5 days or until December 22. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/73717/ABS-CBN-ordered-to-comment-on-AGBs-plea GMANews.TV, ABS-CBN ordered to comment on AGB's plea] ] . ABS-CBN filed a case to cite AGB Nielsen for contempt after it released TV ratings data despite the issuance of the TRO.

On December 21, DZMM correspondent Junrie Hidalgo reported a news story entitled "AGB Nielsen, umamin sa dayaan: GMA Network, tahasang itinurong nasa likod ng dayaan" (AGB Nielsen admits the cheating: GMA Network fiercely accused of being responsible of the cheating) during the program "Showbiz Mismo", hosted by Cristy Fermin and Jobert Sucaldito. The news story is based on an interview of AGB Nielsen's General Manager Maya Reforma regarding the alleged cheating.

In response, GMA aired a TV plug condemning the alleged biased reporting and denied the accusations of ABS-CBN. They later filed a PHP15-million civil libel suit against ABS-CBN on January 3, 2008. The respondents included Hidalgo, Fermin, Sucaldito, the station manager and news manager of DZMM and hosts, writers and executive producers of TV programs Bandila, Entertainment Live and The Buzz after the same story was aired on the mentioned programs. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/75041/GMA-7-files-P15-M-libel-suit-vs-ABS-CBN-over-ratings-issue GMANews.TV, GMA 7 files P15-M libel suit vs ABS-CBN over ratings issue] ]

On January 7, the Quezon City RTC junked ABS-CBN's suit against AGB Nielsen, saying the case was “prematurely filed" before the court. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/75542/Court-junks-ABS-CBNs-complaint-vs-AGB-Nielsen Court junks ABS-CBN's complaint vs AGB-Nielsen] ] Judge Charito Gonzales' basis is the principle of mutuality of contracts, citing Article 1308 and 1196, New Civil Code of the Philippines. ABS-CBN plans to file a motion for reconsideration regarding the case. Also, Judge Samuel Gaerlan, QCRTC, Branch 92 issued court summons against ABS-CBN and its 15 personnel, in the January 3, 2008 P15-million damage suit by GMA Network [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=104658 ABS-CBN Interactive, Court junks ABS-CBN lawsuit vs AGB Nielsen] ]

On January 17, 2008, Judge Gaerlan inhibited himself from the case, considering that he has a cousin working in the legal department of ABS-CBN. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/76893/Judge-in-ratings-row-inhibits-self GMANews.TV, Judge in ratings row inhibits self] ] The case was later re-raffled on January 28, 2008, [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/77017/Re-raffle-of-GMA-Network-case-vs-ABS-CBN-reset-to-Jan-28 GMANews.TV, Re-raffle of GMA Network case vs ABS-CBN reset to Jan 28] ] and the case was eventually assigned to Judge Henri Inting of Branch 95, QCRTC. Judge Inting submitted GMA's petition for a temporary restraining order for decision.

On February 14, 2008, Judge Inting issued a TRO barring ABS-CBN from airing defamatory statements against GMA. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/80544/QC-court-issues-TRO-vs-ABS-CBN-in-ratings-tussle GMANews.TV, QC court issues TRO vs ABS-CBN in ratings tussle] ]

On February 22, 2008, Judge Inting inhibited himself from further hearing the case. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/81760/2nd-Judge-handling-GMAs-damage-suit-vs-ABS-CBN-inhibits GMANews.TV, 2nd Judge handling GMA's damage suit vs ABS-CBN inhibits] ]

Writ of Amparo

On January 22, 2008, Asia-Pacific Director Jacqueline Park of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) supported the petition for Writ of amparo filed by the ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation's 11 employees (led by Ces Oreña-Drilon) with the Supreme Court to rule on the legality of journalists' arrests concerning the failed Manila Peninsula rebellion. It stated: "We support employees from ABS-CBN in standing up for their democratic rights to work free from harassment and intimidation, especially from government officials and authorities." Meanwhile the Supreme Court required the respondents to file comment to the amparo petition within 10 days. Further, Harry Roque, National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP)'s lawyer announced its filing of a class lawsuit for injunction with damages (Article 33, New Civil Code of the Philippines) against the Philippine National Police, inter alia. [ [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/storypage.aspx?StoryId=106525 Abs-Cbn Interactive, IFJ gives support to ABS-CBN employees amparo petition] ]

Voting Controversies

#The first major voting controversy occurred on the Big Night of Pinoy Big Brother(Season 2) when Robi Domingo, one of the long front-runners of the competition, was voted runner-up by a mere lost of 1.92%. It has caused much hassle in the forums but both ABS-CBN and Endemol has issued a joint statement saying that "ABS-CBN and Endemol reaffirm their commitment to the integrity of our established voting process." [ [http://teensplus.pinoybigbrother.com/tabid/134/Article/655/Default.aspx The Joint Statement of Endemol and Abs-CBN to speculations of vote manipulations] ]
#The second controversy happened when 5 star-scholar Liezel Garcia was voted 4th place losing the Top Three spot by 0.33% and the Grand Spot by 21.85%. Her fans have been asking for an ABS-CBN explanation to why her awards are not turned into valid votes.

Gameshow Rules

#The first gameshow rule controversy happened when 4-time consecutive probationary scholar Bea of Pinoy Dream Academy (season 2) was not elimnated when there is a rule saying that the maximum probationary status any scholar can have is three.

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