Arnel Pineda issued warrant from Quezon City court in domestic violence case
MANILA, Philippines — A Quezon City Regional Trial Court released a bench warrant against Journey vocalist Arnel Pineda in relation to a filing by his estranged wife in violation of Republic Act 9262, the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act.
Judge Mary Ann Punzalan-Toribio of the Quezon City RTC Branch 99 released the warrant last September 12 due to Arnel's absence from an initial hearing on the matter.
Bail is set at P72,000. Authorities, however, have said they have no information on Arnel's whereabouts.
Arnel's wife claimed in the filing she suffered from "verbal assaults, manipulation, and coercive behavior" during their relationship, which was why she left their home.
Arnel, meanwhile, has filed a motion to defer the arraignment filed by his wife.
"Mr. Pineda was required to appear, but at the time, he was confined in the hospital and could not attend. When the arraignment was later re-scheduled, he remained unable to appear. For this reason, the court issued a bench warrant to compel his attendance," Arnel's lawyer was quoted as saying in an Inquirer report.
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The attorney clarified the RTC issued a bench warrant, a procedural directive to secure attendance in court proceedings, "This should not be confused with a warrant of arrest for the commission of a crime."
Arnel's camp further added the complaint was filed over a year after Arnel filed two adultery cases against his wife in the Quezon City RTC.
"Although the Office of the City Prosecutor initially found probable cause, the matter was appealed to the Department of Justice," Arnel's legal team said.
"The DOJ has since issued a Resolution on September 4 dismissing the VAWC case and directing the withdrawal of the Information, confirming that the complaint against Mr. Pineda was baseless."
"Mr. Pineda has remained silent about this matter out of respect for the judicial process, maintaining that disputes should be resolved in the proper courts of law and not in the court of public opinion."
"He could have gone to media when the two adultery cases were filed in court, but chose to observe the sub judice rule — which his wife obviously violated when she caused the release of this one-sided narrative," they ended.
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