MANILA, Philippines – Willie Revillame wanted Wowowee co-hosts Pokwang and Mariel Rodriquez axed from the noontime show as a precondition for his return, an ABS-CBN official disclosed on Friday.

In an interview with ABS-CBN News, Linggit Tan, ABS-CBN senior vice-president for TV entertainment, said this demand was another sign that Revillame had not changed his attitude, thus making it difficult for the network to come to terms with the TV host following his 3-month suspension.

Tan issued the statement in response to Revillame’s claim that ABS-CBN had reneged on an agreement that he was to return to the show on July 31. Revillame is using this as one of the reasons for rescinding his contract with the Kapamilya network.

“Wala pong naging kasunduan ang management ng ABS-CBN at si Willie na babalik na siya sa Wowowee noong July 31. Ang suspensyon ni Willie ay matatapos po sa August 24 pa. Si Willie ang may gustong bumalik na siya sa Wowowee noong July 31. Ang totoo po, wala pang desisyon ang management noon, bilang pagbibigay halaga sa damdamin ng mga manonood na ang iba ay tutol po talaga sa kanyang pagbabalik sa telebisyon dahil sa inasal niya noong May 4 at mga iba pang pangyayari noon,” Tan said.

“Isang patunay na hindi pa siya nagbabago ay ang pagbibigay niya ng mga kondisyon sa kanyang pagbabalik. Pinapatanggal po niya sina Mariel Rodriguez at Pokwang sa programa at dapat din daw siyang suwelduhan habang siya ay suspendido. Kaya’t marami pa kaming dapat pag-usapan at ayusin. Naniniwala ang management ng ABS-CBN na dapat isabuhay muna ni Willie ang pinahahalagahang values at work ethics ng kompanya bago siya bumalik sa telebisyon,” she added.

In reply to Revillame’s August 9 letter, ABS-CBN, represented by the law firm Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo, and Angangco, also disclosed that aside from demanding the removal of all female hosts of Wowowee, Revillame also asked for the following:

• Payment of talent fee during the period of the suspension of the talent agreement;
• Return of DJ Coki and Ana Feliciano to Wowowee;
• Change of program from Wowowee to Wowowin;
• Inclusion of Pinoy Big Brother winner Melai as host of the show;
• Special ID cards for staff of Wowowee;
• Special vehicle access privilege for the TV host in restricted areas within the ABS-CBN compound.

ABS-CBN’s Tan “did not grant nor agree” to Revillame’s demands. Thus, the company said “there could not have been an agreement on a definite date” for Revillame’s return to television.

“Clearly, therefore, there is no truth that Ms. Tan informed you on 10 July 2010 that you would return as host of Wowowee on 31 July 2010,” the network’s lawyers said.

In a meeting on July 13, the network’s lawyers also argued that ABS-CBN President Charo Santos-Concio informed Revillame that the suspension of the TV host’s talent agreement was to last until “August 24, 2010. Thus, the earliest Revillame could return was after that date.

“However, Revillame didn’t want to return in August since it was an “unlucky month to do so,” the lawyers said.

“You cited several bad experiences in your personal life and career that occurred in the month of August. Since a return on 31 July 2010 was not possible, this led to a consideration of other dates for your possible return to the program,” the lawyers said.

The earliest Revillame could return to the show was sometime in September 2010.

In the meeting with Santos-Concio, the lawyers said Revillame was told that “public sentiment was still mostly against your return to television and that there was a need to rehabilitate your image and name.’

Revillame, in response, said he was ready to return to television as late as January 2011, “if this was what ABS-CBN management thought was best under the circumstances.”

Revillame supposedly mentioned this was “worth considering” since a return in January 2011 would coincide with his 50th birthday.

Santos-Concio, during the meeting, also told Revillame he needed to change his attitude before his return to television.

During the last meeting between Tan and Revillame on July 20, the lawyers said Tan informed Revillame that management “had finally decided that a return to Wowowee was no longer an option.”

“This was due to the fact that studies and feedback received by ABS-CBN had shown that the viewing public was still not in favor of your return to television because of the incident of 4 May 2010 and that it was advisable to gradually build the public’s acceptance of your presence on television,” the lawyers said.

This was why Tan opened discussions for an alternative program, including one that was pre-recorded instead of live.

Revillame announced last week his desire to end his contract with ABS-CBN, which the network said was binding until September 2011. His lead counsel Leonard de Vera said they are seeking legal protection for Revillame given ABS-CBN’s newest statement.

“As a consequence of the letter of Atty. Villaraza which in effect warns Willie and those who may want to contract with him while ABS-CBN keeps Willie in the freezer, Willie is now compelled to seek the protection of the courts of law,” De Vera said.

Report from Mario Dumaual, ABS-CBN News