Former ‘Wowowee’ host won’t show court TV5 contract

MANILA. Philippines—Former “Wowowee” host Willie Revillame has refused to show his contract with TV5 to a Quezon City court, saying ABS-CBN cannot compel him to produce a “privileged” document whose contents cannot be revealed.

In his reply to ABS-CBN’s petition filed before Judge Luisito Cortez of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 85, Revillame accused his former employer of going on a “fishing expedition” to back up its counterclaim against him.

“The [document] that the motion seeks to be produced contains and provides for a nondisclosure clause, which thereby exempts it from the reach of ABS-CBN’s motion,” Revillame said.

He added that he was prohibited by the nondisclosure clause to reveal the contract to any third party, including ABS CBN, and that his former employer had no right to demand to see it.

According to him, the contract involves a third person—TV5—which is not a party to the instant case, referring to his petition to have the court affirm the termination of his contract with his old network.

Irrelevant, immaterial

“The [document which is the] subject of ABS-CBN’s motion has no relevance or materiality to the instant case …. Consequently, the motion must be denied,” Revillame told the court.

In August, he asked the court to compel ABS-CBN to award him P11 million in damages for the rescission of his contract with the TV network.

In its defense, ABS-CBN claimed that he violated the behavioral provisions of his contract when he threatened to resign if network officials refused to fire another talent, Jobert Sucaldito, who had criticized him.

Last month, the network filed a countersuit, asking the court to order Revillame to pay P426 million in damages for breach of contract and P20 million each for moral damages, exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.

Julie Aurelio, Phil. Daily Inquirer