GMA Network on Saturday dismissed as a worn out tale the testimony of an alleged ABS-CBN informant who surfaced Friday on TV Patrol World. “There’s nothing new. It’s still dubious and inconsistent with known facts," GMA Network said in a statement.

GMA Network described as rehashed the testimony of ABS CBN informant, Mark Dumago, who revealed his face in an interview on TV Patrol.

Dumago always appeared in silhouette in his past interviews, which have aired repeatedly on ABS CBN programs and plugs.

On TV Patrol World Friday, apart from revealing to the public who he was, Dumago said nothing new, the network said.

GMA Network added:

“He continued to claim that GMA Network allegedly hired him and several others to manipulate AGB Nielsen ratings in Bacolod City back in 2006. Dumago’s testimony is the backbone of the suit for damages recently filed by ABS-CBN against AGB Nielsen. That case was dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court. ABS-CBN now faces twin suits – first, an indirect contempt of court charge from AGB Nielsen and second, a libel suit from GMA Network.

“AGB Nielsen said in its petition that ABS-CBN erroneously reported to the public in its various programs, that the court ordered AGB to stop releasing all ratings data information. AGB Nielsen complained that ABS-CBN distorted the meaning of the temporary restraining order issued by the court.

“GMA Network, for its part, is determined to pursue libel charges against ABS-CBN for its repeated attempts to damage the reputation of GMA by falsely claiming that AGB Nielsen named GMA as the party behind alleged ratings manipulation in Bacolod City. AGB Nielsen, through its lawyer, Atty. Francisco Rivera, already denied that AGB Nielsen named GMA Network and instead pointed to ABS-CBN as the one who named GMA Network.

“GMA Network wants to ferret out the truth in court – rather than be subjected to ABS-CBN’s trial by publicity.

“National advertisers also want the matter to be settled in court. In a recent trade presentation of GMA Network, advertisers appealed to both GMA and ABS-CBN not to allow the issue to continue as an ugly war of unproven allegations, detrimental to both the television industry and the viewing public.

“In that trade presentation, GMA Network President and CEO, Atty. Felipe Gozon pointed out that GMA did not draw first blood, but of course, must defend itself against the well orchestrated demolition job that ABS-CBN has launched. The latest salvo of which is the Dumago interview that aired on several ABS-CBN programs.

“Gozon’s challenge to ABS-CBN: Let Dumago and the other so called informers of ABS-CBN, prove the veracity of their testimonies in court so the public can finally find out who is really telling truth and who is just spinning malicious lies.”

On Friday, the network also issued the following statement:

“GMA Network categorically denies that it hired persons to conduct alleged ratings tampering operations in Bacolod City or anywhere else in the country.

“This denial comes at the heels of the ABS-CBN informant who came forward and identified a GMA Iloilo officer as the one who allegedly hired them to bribe panel homes in Bacolod City.

“GMA Network and its employees and talents have worked hard for the success it has achieved as the number one network in Luzon, Mega Manila and Metro Manila. It has never conducted any house-to-house operations in Bacolod City nor does it engage in dirty tactics in its campaign to win over viewers in the Visayas and Mindanao.

“GMA Network is determined to pursue its libel case vs. ABS-CBN for repeatedly airing reports that named GMA as the network behind the ratings manipulation attempt in Bacolod City back in 2006.”

Source: GMANews.TV