QUEZON CITY — The Regional Trial Court Branch 88 here favored GMA Network Inc. in a civil suit it filed against former GMA executive Roberto V. Barreiro for his refusal to return a company-issued vehicle.
In an eight-page decision issued by Presiding Judge Rosanna Fe Romero-Maglaya, the RTC declared that GMA has the right of possession of the Volvo 850 GLE entrusted by the company to Barreiro – in 1997.
On March 25, 2002, GMA terminated Barreiro for cause from his corporate position as president and chief operating officer of GMA Marketing & Productions Inc. and senior vice president and TV group head of GMA Network Inc. Thereafter, GMA demanded Barreiro to surrender the vehicle but he ignored the demand.
Barreiro argued that the Volvo was assigned to him based on the Network’s car program, which allegedly states that ownership of the vehicle is automatically transferred to the officer it is assigned after four years. He contended that he was illegally-terminated without due process and that he expressed his intention to waive ownership of the vehicle provided that GMA executes a quitclaim in his favor to avoid further litigation involving the vehicle.
The RTC said that Barreiro was unable to prove the existence of the car program at the time GMA demanded its return.
Evidence showed that it was only in 2003 when GMA established its car program policy for senior VPs and VPs, a year after Barrerio was terminated.
According to the RTC, while GMA proved its ownership and possession over the vehicle, Barreiro, on the other hand, failed to justify his continued possession of the vehicle.
GMA was awarded P50,000 for damages, while other claims for damages filed by Barreiro were dismissed due to lack of merit.
