Junk case filed by TV host’s wife, court asked

The producer of “Eat Bulaga” has asked a Quezon City court to dismiss the P2.1 million counter suit filed by the estranged wife of one of the television show’s hosts, Jose Manalo, for her alleged failure to back up her claim that the case it earlier filed against her was “malicious and oppressive.”

Television and Production Exponents (TAPE) Inc. also asked the court to junk Anna Lyn’s claim for damages because she did not pay the required docket fees.

“At any rate, defendant’s assertion that the filing of the complaint is malicious, oppressive and has no basis in law and in fact is unsubstantiated as defendant failed to present any logical argument to support her claim,” TAPE said through its lawyer Nestor Leynes III.

The TV show producer filed its reply with Judge Luis Cenon Maceren of the Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 218 in reply to Anna Lyn’s counter-claim suit in which she asked the court to award her P2.1 million in damages.

This was after TAPE filed a petition for injunction with damages to stop her from contacting or approaching her husband who, TAPE claimed, she had been harassing since November last year.

Anna Lyn countered by accusing the TV producer of defending her husband, thus allowing him to escape from his obligations to her and their children.

“Contrary to defendant’s assertions that TAPE is ‘taking [up] the cudgels’ for [Manalo, his] personal problems are not plaintiff’s concern and are entirely irrelevant to the present case,” TAPE said in its reply.

It added that the counter suit does not bar Anna Lyn from availing herself of any legal remedy in connection with her marital dispute with Manalo and that it only wanted to stop her from committing acts which may be detrimental to its business and operations.

In February, Anna Lyn accused Manalo of violating Republic Act 9262 or the Anti-Violence against Women and Children Act in the San Juan City Prosecutor’s Office.

In her complaint, she claimed that the comedian had abandoned her and their seven children after he became involved with another woman.

Anna Lyn also accused Manalo of emotional and verbal abuse, saying he had badmouthed her in front of their children.

Her allegations, however, were denied by Manalo.