Court of Appeals clears Jose Manalo in ex-wife’s P50-million debt case

MANILA, Philippines — The Court of Appeals (CA) has cleared television host and comedian Jose Manalo of civil liability in a P50-million debt case involving his estranged wife.

Under the agreement, Annalyn promised to “jointly and/or together with her husband” pay businessman Froilan Clemente Jr. a total of P50 million in the form of real properties as a compromise for the P15-million debt she personally owed the businessman.

In a three-page resolution promulgated last March 28, the former 17th Division of the CA dismissed with finality the petition seeking to implead and bind Manalo in the compromise agreement between Annalyn and Clemente.

The CA dismissed the motion for reconsideration filed by Clemente seeking the reversal of its decision issued in December last year, which voided the contract.

In the ruling penned by Associate Justice Ma. Luisa Quijano-Padilla, the CA division stood firm with its earlier ruling that the comedian was not a party to the settlement deal.

The CA reiterated its finding that the compromise deal was invalid because Manalo was named as a party even without his consent.

Associate Justices Elihu Ybañez and Perpetua Atal - Paño concurred in this ruling.

In its assailed decision, the CA upheld the Jan. 26, 2018 order of Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 92 Judge Eleuterio Bathan that voided the compromise agreement.