Lopez family feud erupts as Piki sues cousins

MANILA, Philippines — A Lopez family feud has erupted as tycoon Federico “Piki” Lopez sued his cousins Eugenio “Gabby” Lopez III, Rafael Lopez, Miguel Ernesto Lopez, Martin Lopez and Maria Eugenia Brown over his ouster as president of family holding company Lopez Inc.

Piki filed a complaint before the Mandaluyong Regional Trial Court (RTC) on March 11 against his cousins in their capacities as directors of Lopez Inc. – the ultimate parent company of all the Lopez Group that included Lopez Holdings Corp., First Philippine Holdings Corp., First Gen Corp. and Energy Development Corp.

Claiming that his ouster during a Feb. 27, 2026 board meeting was illegal, Piki sought his reinstatement as president of the holding company.

He also asked the Mandaluyong RTC to nullify altogether the Lopez Inc. board resolution, declaring his ouster and naming his replacement.

In an order dated March 16, the court granted Piki’s application for a writ of preliminary injunction.

In an order dated March 26, presiding judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio prohibited and restrained the defendants, their successors, representatives and all persons acting for and on their behalf from enforcing or implementing the Feb. 27 Lopez Inc. board resolutions which removed Piki as president of the company and appointed Rafael as his replacement.

Rafael, younger brother of Gabby, was also not allowed by the court to assume, exercise, or perform the powers and functions as president of Lopez Inc.

Further, it prohibited the replacement of Piki as officer, director, or corporate representative in any corporation where Lopez Inc. holds shares and exercises voting rights through its president.

Aside from Gabby and Rafael, the respondents in the case also include Martin, chairman of ABS-CBN, his brother Miguel Ernesto and another cousin Maria Eugenia.

The STAR has reached out to Gabby, Rafael, Miguel and Martin for comments but did not get a response as of press time.

The respondents are members of Lopez Inc.’s seven-man board. Piki and his brother Benjamin Lopez are also members of the company’s board.

Piki’s removal as Lopez Inc. president was allegedly due to his refusal to infuse P2-billion reserve funds from Lopez Inc. as fresh capital for the ailing ABS-CBN.

Piki and his brother Benjamin as members of Lopez Inc.’s board reportedly voted against the use of the reserve funds of their holding company for ABS-CBN, because of what they considered “unresolved audit findings” at ABS-CBN.