The Outdoor Advertisers Association of the Philippines and Go Transit Media Group Inc., the Philippine office of Australia’s largest service provider of transit ads, are now in a bitter dispute over “false and patently misleading” statements that OAAP allegedly made against Robert Henry, Go Transit’s chairman and the company itself.
In a letter dated December 1, 2009 and addressed to Nandy Villar, then the chairman of the Association of Accredited Advertising Agencies – Phils. (4As-P), OAAP President Joe Vale allegedly requested the 4As-P’s “kind assistance in preventing this person (Henry) and the corporation he represents from belittling and disregarding our national laws by not patronizing their business and by reporting to us all their acts relative to the conduct of mass media and the advertising business.” OAAP also allegedly filed a complaint against Henry himself with the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID).
Having obtained a copy of the letter, Go Transit demanded, through its lawyer Atty. Raymond Fortun, a letter of retraction from OAAP to all members of the 4As-P and to publish it in the Philippine Daily Inquirer and Manila Bulletin. Otherwise, Go Transit would file civil and criminal cases and hold OAAP liable for actual and moral damages. The demand letter also stated that BID has already granted a Quota Immigrant Visa to Henry, legitimizing his stay in the country.
When asked about OAAP’s response last March 1, OAAP’s legal counsel Atty. Troy Bañez said that both parties are trying to settle the matter amicably.
“All OAAP wants is to protect the industry and to settle the matter so that no party will be further damaged by this matter,” Bañez explained.
But an OAAP member told adobo that the organization was concerned over the legality of Go Transit’s business here in the Philippines as well as the threat of monopoly in the transit ads industry. He claimed that these concerns were backed up by facts and documents that cannot be disclosed at this time.
However, In an email interview, Henry disclosed that OAAP did submit a retraction, but Go Transit rejected it “as being unsuitable considering the severity of their protracted and unfounded attack on the reputation of both myself and my company.”
He also shared that the company has suffered considerable losses due to the “scare tactics” of OAAP, but that it still has the continued support of the 190 Philippine bus operators that controls 85 percent of the total nationwide fleet.
“Go Transit is a law-abiding and legitimate company and will continue to defend its legal rights with undying vigour across all platforms and at all levels.” Henry stated.
