Celebs who cried, ‘I’ll see you in court!’

There are scandals that spawn across different media only to get wiped out of people’s memories after a time.

Some controversies, however, tarry and go beyond media---they land in court.

Your honors, the Manila Bulletin Entertainment Online presents the five biggest cases of 2009 that may just make it into law students’ case books in the future:

Hayden Kho Jr. vs. Katrina Halili

The Hayden Kho Jr.-Katrina Halili story is no “Careless Whisper.” Indeed, the wildfire created by their sex video scandal mid-2009 refused to simper months later.

Katrina, who is only one of many women involved in the whole controversy, became a beacon to her kind who had suffered a similar fate. She pushed for Hayden’s punishment, accusing the celebrity ex-doctor of violating Republic Act (RA) 9262, or “the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Act.”

Results: The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) suspended Hayden from practicing his profession for two years. Later, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) revoked Hayden’s medical license.

It doesn’t end there. Katrina submitted on Dec. 10, a resolution to the National Bureau of Investigation to probe more into the matter. The legislators are now lobbying for an “anti-voyeurism” bill.

The Battle of the matriarchs

The long-time feud between GMA matriarch Wilma Galvante and Gutierrez matriarch Annabelle Rama erupted this year due to issues that piled up one after the other.

According to reports, these issues are: the manager’s talents allegedly refusing offers, Annabelle’s “bribes” to keep the GMA’s Senior Vice President for Entertainment’s favor, and the fiery exchanges between the two.

The Kapuso executive filed on March 17 a P7 M damage lawsuit and a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Annabelle, whom she alleged to have threatened her through text messages and media interviews.

Not one to turn the other cheek, Annabelle countered with a P25 M lawsuit for moral and exemplary damages, as well as a grave slander case for allegedly bad mouthing her to her talents, particularly JC de Vera.

But bad news for Annabelle: the slander case was dismissed by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court on July 24 for “lack of probable cause.”

But in true never-say-die fashion, Annabelle blurted, “Matira matibay. Hindi ako titigil!”

Richard Gutierrez’s dual ordeals

One of Richard Gutierrez’s career challenges in 2009 was the “reckless imprudence resulting in homicide” case filed against him by Lorayne Pardo, wife of his personal assistant, Nomar.

It is recalled that Nomar died May 22 after the car he was on that Richard was driving slammed into a post in Silang, Cavite.

Richard had apologized to Lorayne and had offered financial support for her children, but she refused to accept it. Although she claims to have already forgiven Richard, she insists on “seeking justice.”

Richard’s other case is a libel suit against an entertainment website which he said, posted an inaccurate article about a heated argument allegedly between him and Michael Flores at director Mark Reyes’ party last March 28.

The case was first dismissed by the DOJ for lack of merit, but this decision was later reversed.

The Gutierrezes maintain that they would not have sued if the respondents gave “sufficient” public apology.

The respondents, claiming no malice in writing and uploading the story, are set to file a motion for reconsideration.

The “harasser” or the “harassed?”

Two actors who faced acts of lasciviousness cases this year are Baron Geisler and Aljur Abrenica.

Yasmien Kurdi filed a case for acts of lasciviousness and unjust vexation against Baron Geisler on May 25, alleging that her “SRO Cinemaserye Presents: Suspetsa” co-star harassed her on one of their tapings.

The “StarStruck” alumna dropped the case two days later after Baron apologized to her.

Aljur also got slammed with a sexual harassment case filed against him by a 15-year-old model. The complainant claimed that the deed was commissioned at a beach party in Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro last April.

Aljur pleaded not guilty, and asked the DOJ to dismiss the case filed by the accuser’s mother for “lack of merit.” He said the allegations were “blatant fabrications that were obviously concocted as an afterthought to save [the complainant's] injured pride.”

Jennylyn Mercado's falling out with PA

Aside from her endless bickering with ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia, actress Jennylyn Mercado had her hands full in 2009 with the case she filed against her personal assistant Mel Pulmano.

The charge is for qualified theft and falsification of documents; “crimes” which Mel allegedly committed when she squandered a total of P460,000 of the actress’s money. Jennylyn claimed that Mel forged her signature to carry out the deed.

Mel, in turn, filed a robbery case against Jennylyn. She claimed that the actress, together with two others, robbed pieces of her jewelry, with values amounting to a total of P149,150. Mel’s case has been dismissed due to lack of probable cause.


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