TELEVISION host Willie Revillame, who was reported to have earned P40 million a month for hosting a daily noontime show on television, has asked a Quezon City court to ignore the “compulsory counterclaims” filed by his former employer ABS-CBN, describing the close to half a billion peso amount as “horrendous.”

In the petition filed by Revillame in Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 84, he also asked to be allowed to present evidence ex parte, or without the representation or notification of defendant ABS-CBN, in the civil case he filed for judicial confirmation of his rescission of his contract as host of the show “Wowowee” aired over the giant network.

The TV personality also requested the court to be allowed to present on Sept. 30 evidence of his plea for a confirmation of the rescission of his contract.

In his petition, the TV host also requested the court not to give weight to the counterclaim filed by the TV network because of its failure to pay the docket fee.

“Defendant ABS-CBN did not deign to, as it did not, pay the required docket fee. Consequently, the compulsory counterclaims asserted by ABS-CBN should be stricken from the records,” the motion said.

“It is as if no answer was filed by defendant ABS-CBN within the reglementary period. As a result, the network should be declared in default,” it added.

The TV host had filed a P11.5-million damage suit for rescission of contract in August after a falling out with the network’s management.

ABS-CBN last week filed its counterclaim against Revillame, asking the court to order the TV host to pay P426 million in damages for breach of contract and P20 million each for moral damages, exemplary damages and attorney’s fees.

Source: Nancy C. Carvajal, Philippine Daily Inquirer