The Court of Appeals (CA) has denied a motion for reconsideration of actor-television host Eduardo “Edu” Manzano seeking a reversal of its 2021 decision that dismissed his complaint involving P2.6 million against ABC Development Corporation (TV5) after he declined to host a new game show called “Quiet Please.”
In a two-page resolution dated August 31, the CA’s Former 17th Division denied the appeal of Manzano and his agency, Tentra, Inc., saying the actor did not raise new arguments to warrant a reversal of the assailed ruling.
“The motion for reconsideration does not raise any new matter. Plaintiffs-appellant’s arguments are mere rehash of issues which have been elevated in the appeal, all of which have been addressed and exhaustively discussed in the assailed decision,” stated the resolution penned by Associate Justice Florencio Mamauag Jr.
“Accordingly, the motion is denied for lack of merit,” the court ruled. Associate Justices Carlito Calpatura and Zenaida Galapate-Laguilles concurred with the ruling.
The appellate court held that Manzano was not entitled to the P2.6 million deducted by TV5 from his P63-million fees.
Court records showed that Manzano, represented by his manager June Torrejon Rufino of Tentra, Inc., signed a three-year agreement with TV5 guaranteeing him P63 million in talent fees from Sept. 1, 2011 to Aug. 31, 2014.
Under the contract, Manzano was obliged to do on-camera acting as well perform other services such as on-air appearances, costume fittings, make-up calls, pre-production meetings, rehearsals, publicity and promotional trailers, mall shows, post-production activities, ad agency visits and participation in station ID shoots.
But Manzano informed TV5 that he would not host the new game show “Quiet Please” requiring players to complete a challenge within a set time limit with the least challenge.
Manzano argued that the show’s format was not in keeping with his personality and image.
He reiterated this in his motion, explaining that the success of his past shows was due to his unique skill, talent and frequent banter with the players and audience, and that his participation in the new game show would be reduced to a mere announcer or bystander.
After a series of fruitless meetings, TV5 decided to deduct P2.6 million from Manzano’s talent fees, forcing him to file a case before the Makati city regional trial court.
But on May 17, 2019 the Makati RTC dismissed Manzano’s complaint.
The RTC held that it was the actor who breached the agreement when he declined to host the new game show.
Manzano then elevated the case to the CA, which also denied his appeal in a ruling on August 2021.
In its assailed ruling, the appellate court anchored its decision on the provision of Article 1159 of the New Civil Code which states that “Obligations arising from contracts have the force of law between the contracting parties and should be complied with in good faith.”