Television host appears at annulment hearing

Television host and comedian Willie Revillame appeared Tuesday in the pre-trial conference of the petition for annulment of marriage filed by his estranged wife Liz Almoro before the Quezon City regional trial court. Accompanied by counsels Armando Marcelo and Maricris Pahate, Revillame presented himself before the sala of branch 89 Judge Elsa de Guzman in response to the court’s summon for him to appear for the pre-trial of his case. Almoro, whose real name is Floralice Almoro filed the case October 3, a month after rumors spread that she and Revillame had already separated. The sala of Judge De Guzman, however, refused to reveal the grounds that Almoro cited in her petition due to the confidentiality of the case. Apart from the annulment, Almoro sought for a temporary protection order (TPO), asking the court to order Revillame to distance himself at least 300 meters away from her and their baby boy. It was learned that the sheriff of Branch 89 served the TPO to Revillame on the night of October 5 in his residence in Ayala Heights and was ordered to leave his house. Branch 89 trial prosecutor Edgardo Paragua told GMANews.TV that the pre-trial proceedings is usually conducted for both parties to stipulate the pieces of evidence they would be presenting in the trial proper. Paragua, however, refused to discuss what had happened in the hearing since the court has issued a gag order to both parties. But he explained that the issuance of the TPO was basically connected with Republic Act 9262 (Violence Against Women and Their Children). Paragua refused to elaborate on the grounds stated by Almoro in seeking a TPO. He added that Almoro is also seeking for a permanent protection order (PPO) because a TPO is usually in effect for only 20 days. Revillame and his counsels also refused to comment on what transpired in the proceedings. The wedding of Revillame and Almoro last year was well-publicized and was even shown in ABS-CBN television network. - GMANews.TV