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Richard Gutierrez and PEP finally find peace
By Noel Orsal
Richard Gutierrez (right) has accepted theapology of Philippine
Entertainment Portal in
connection with the libel suit he filed against this
website. PEP editors Jo-Ann Maglipon (left) andKaren Pagsolingan
and staffwriter Ferdinand
Godinez personally apologized to Richard during
their meeting at the office of DOJ Secretary
Agnes Devanadera (middle) earlier today, Feb. 9.
Movie and television star Richard Gutierrez and
editors of the Philippine Entertainment Portal
(PEP) website led by editor-in-chief Jo-AnnMaglipon reached an
amicable settlement today,
February 9, 2010, regarding the libel suit filed by
the actor over an article that appeared in the PEP
website on March 29, 2009.
The PEP article alleged that Gutierrez was involved "in a heated
squabble with Michael Flores"
during the birthday party of director Mark Reyes, an incident
that turned out not to have
happened and which story the website has since admitted to have
been a mistake.
PEP Editors Jo-Ann Maglipon and Karen Pagsolingan and reporter
Ferdinand Godinez have
personally apologized to the complainant for the erroneous
publication of the article. Gutierrezhas accepted the apology, and
the two parties have mutually agreed to amicably settle the
libel
case.
As part of the settlement, PEP issued this public apology:
"The Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) hereby reiterates
that Mr. Richard Gutierrez was
never involved in any "heated altercation" or "tutukan ng baril"
with Michael Flores or with anyother individual on 29 March 2009,
during the party of Zorro director Mark Reyes, contrary to
an article briefly uploaded on its website on the same day.
"PEP editor-in-chief Jo-Ann Maglipon, managing editor Karen
Pagsolingan and staffwriterBong Godinez acknowledge their error;
repeat their assurance that they have no maliciousagenda against
Mr. Gutierrez; and apologize for the publication of the article and
their failure
to get his side of the story and for the hurt it has caused him
and his family."
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The settlement was reached during a meeting between Gutierrez,
Maglipon, Pagsolingan, and
Godinez at the office of Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera, on
which occasion Maglipon, in
her behalf and that of the others in her staff, read the above
apology.
Also in the presence of the Secretary Devanadera, Gutierrez
accepted the apology, and later
signed an affidavit of desistance.
The parties then shook hands in the presence of the Justice
Secretary and media representatives
to effectively end the libel suit.
It will be recalled that the Department of Justice recommended
the filing of a case for Libelagainst Maglipon, Pagsolingan and
Godinez for the subject article. With the affidavit of
desistance signed, Secretary Devanadera declared the case
closed.
