Baron Geisler lawyer lambasts DOJ chief over unfavorable ruling

MANILA , Philippines - Baron Geisler’s legal counsel on Tuesday blasted Department of Justice (DOJ) Sec. Raul Gonzalez over his department's recommendation to file an acts of lasciviousness case against the actor. In a telephone interview, lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan described the DOPJ resolution “unjust and lousy," adding that the recommendation came about as a result of Gonzalez’s “katarantaduhan (stupidity)." Alentajan, who is currently out of the country, said he suspected that the DOJ’s recommendation on Geisler’s case was connected to his now four-year spat with the Justice secretary. He said Gonzalez may just be trying to get back at him because he was among those who earlier opposed Gonzalez’s confirmation before the Commission on Appointments. “Mayroon na namang lakaran iyan. Baka inutos iyan ni Raul Gonzalez. Puwedeng inutusan ni Raul si Jovencito (Gonzalez could have directed Jovencito to recommend the filing of charges against my client)," Alentajan said. Alentajan was referring to Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, who signed the 14-page report submitted by investigating prosecutor Amanda Felipe recommending the filing of charges against Geisler over the complaint filed by Patrizha Maree Martinez for allegedly making sexual advances on the teenager at a party in a Makati bar in April. “The DOJ is an honorable department but the decision is just disgusting. I am disappointed with the DOJ," lamented Alentajan, adding that the latest DOJ approval just gave further proof that the agency was in fact the “Department of Injustice." “It’s an unjust and lousy decision," Alentajan said. Apart from recommending the filing of charges against Geisler, the DOJ also dismissed the three counter-charges that the actor had filed in response to the sexual harassment case lodged against him. The dismissed cases included unjust vexation against Patrizha; as well as perjury both for Yayo and the victim’s friend Steffanie Barrios, who witnessed the bar incident last April 25. The DOJ said that it would be filing next week the act of lasciviousness case against Geisler before the Makati Regional Trial Court. The Justice department said the Makati court is expected to issue an arrest warrant against Geisler within the week. Alentajan bucked the idea of his client being put behind bars. “Bakit mag-iissue kaagad ng arrest warrant kung hindi pa nga nai-fa-file iyong kaso (How can they issue an arrest warrant if they haven’t filed the case yet before the Makati court)," Alentajan said. “Hindi pa nga nila nadadala sa korte eh nagdadadaldal na sila. (They have yet to bring the case to an RTC) What they are doing is actually unethical," he added. He said he has yet to get the full details of the DOJ recommendation, but said that once he returns to the Philippines, he would be readying legal actions against the people responsible for it. Alentajan said he would be lodging a complaint against the prosecutors for displaying partiality, evident bad taste, and gross ignorance of the law. “I will sue before the Ombudsman the investigator who made that recommendation," said Alentajan, who is set to arrive in Manila late Wednesday night. DOJ dismissal In junking Geisler’s counter-charges, the DOJ said there was “no probable cause" for the embattled actor to hurl charges against the Martinez’s and Barrios, saying Geisler’s camp only resorted to such legal action for defense sake. “It is also respectfully recommending that the complaints against Patrizha… Barrios, and Ma. Rosario (Yayo) be dismissed for lack of probable cause," the investigation report stated. In his perjury charge, Geisler claimed Yayo had lied in her sworn statement before the Justice department, saying it was impossible for the victim’s mother to recount details of the bar incident given that she was not in the area at that time. The actor also dismissed as mere interpretations Yayo’s claim that he had tried to disrespect her in a reality television show wherein the two starred. In the program, television cameras were able to capture a then drunk actor in action while trying to make what seemed like advances on Yayo. Geisler had been previously embroiled in several bar scuffles. - Mark Merueñas, GMANews.TV