MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) and Richard Gutierrez have reached an out-of-court settlement regarding the actor’s P25-million libel suit against the entertainment Web site.  

According to a press release, both parties met at the office of Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera. During the meeting, editor in chief Jo-Ann Maglipon read PEP's  public apology.

“The Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP) hereby reiterates that Mr. Richard Gutierrez was never involved in any heated altercation or tutukan ng baril with Michael Flores or with any other individual on 29 March 2009 during the party of Zorro director Mark Reyes, contrary to an article briefly uploaded on its website on 29 March 2009,” PEP's statement read.

“PEP editor in chief Jo-Ann Maglipon, managing editor Karen Pagsolingan and staff writer Bong Godinez, acknowledging their error, repeat their assurance that they have no malicious agenda against Mr. Gutierrez and apologize for the publication of the article and their failure to get his side of the story and for the hurt it has caused him and his family," it added.

The issuance of the public apology was part of the amicable settlement between the 2 camps.

Respondents Maglipon, Pagsolingan and Godinez have also personally apologized to Gutierrez “for the erroneous publication of the articles.”

“Gutierrez has accepted the apology, and the 2 parties have mutually agreed to amicably settle the libel case,” the press release said.

Gutierrez later signed an affidavit declaring that he is no longer pursuing the libel case he filed against PEP.